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There are 3 types of venue to choose from.
Venues licensed for civil ceremonies include castles, country houses and tourist attractions. You will need to book the venue and registrars separately.
Dorset Register Office is located at the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester and is suitable for small, simple ceremonies. You can book your ceremony directly with us.
We have rooms for larger ceremonies in Bridport, Gillingham, Swanage and Weymouth which you can book directly with us.
When you book the register office or a ceremony room we will be able to book the registrars for you. They are included in the booking fee so there's no extra cost.
You'll need to book the registrars separately for most licensed venues once you have a provisional booking with the venue.
Contact us to book the registrars for your ceremony.
By law, you must give notice in person at a register office at least 29 days before your ceremony.
Find out more about giving notice of marriage or civil partnership.
Once you've booked your registrars, we will send you a confirmation pack. This will include a ceremony planner, which will guide you through preparing for your ceremony.
Every ceremony is unique. Our experienced registrars will design a ceremony that's personal to you.
You can:
Licensed venues set their own charges and you should discuss payment with them.
View the register office and ceremony room fees.
You also need to pay for: