Somerset – the best place in the country for a wedding, in our humble West Country opinion! Our amazing history, legendary landmarks, world famous food and drink and unique landscape combine to give you everything you need to plan the perfect event.
The Wedding Venue
With around 120 venues for civil ceremonies available, you might just have to have a few of our vow renewal ceremonies to use all your favourite spots! Somerset and North Somerset can offer you castles, stately homes, country houses, hotels, inns, sports clubs, schools, farms and barns. You can say “I do” at the end of a pier, in ice age caves, at an animal sanctuary, a racecourse, a vintage car museum or even at the County Cricket Ground. There’s something for every budget too: simple ceremonies for you and your two witnesses, or a lavish private-hire house party lasting a whole weekend. If you really can’t trim your invite list down, our largest venue can host up to 1000 guests!
The Photo Shoot
Coastline? We’ve got sandy beaches, Jurassic beaches, harbours and cliffs. Hills? How about the Quantocks, Mendips, Brendons, Blackdowns or Exmoor? If you want something flatter, there’s the stunning Somerset Levels. We don’t mean to brag, but we have 192 conservation areas, 36 English Heritage sites, 24 castles, 19 National Trust sites, 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 2 Ice Age gorges and a National Park. We’re confident that the perfect backdrop to your wedding shoot is here somewhere.
Photographers from our directory
The Reception Buffet
Whether you’re planning a cheeseboard or a multi-tiered cheese “cake”, Somerset is the essential county. Cheddar cheese is the most popular – and obviously the best! – in the UK. It accounts for 51% of our £1.9 billion cheese market. Only one producer is left in the village of Cheddar, but Somerset still makes a fantastic variety of farmhouse cheddars and other artisan cheese that will make a mouth-watering addition to your celebrations. For the real cheese lovers out there, you can even get married in the stunning caves of Wookey Hole and feast on a cheddar that has been aged to perfection in an adjacent cavern.
Reception venues and Caterers from our directory
The Wedding Toast
Forget champagne, and go for something a little more local! Somerset has cider producers large and small, with a barrel somewhere to suit all tastes and get your party swinging. From large commercial producers like Brothers and Thatchers to smaller independents like Sheppey’s and Rich’s, to the farmhouse scrumpies who’ll fill up your own jug, you’re bound to find something to tickle your taste buds. There are more than 400 varieties of cider apple grown in the county, with fabulous names like Fair Maid Of Taunton, Slack Ma Girdle, Sops In Wine and Glory Of The West. Sparkling or still, sweet or dry: toast the happy couple in Somerset Style, and as The Wurzels say, “Drink Up Thy Zider!”
Wine, Cocktails & Bar services from our directory
The Evening Do
Somerset knows how to throw a party! We hold a little social gathering at Pilton, just outside Glastonbury, every year that seems to be quite popular. If we can host a shindig for 175,000 people, I think we have your reception covered. If you need more convincing, our party credentials go back a little further. Every autumn sees the return of Carnival season, with Bridgwater taking centre stage as the largest illuminated parade in Europe, and the oldest of its kind in the UK. Official records date from 1847, but mentions of autumn fireworks go as far back as 1716.
Wedding Planners from our directory
The Wedding Band
So, Liverpool has The Beatles and Manchester has Oasis, but Somerset has the mighty Wurzels. Formed in 1966, they’re still gigging 52 years later, which is the kind of staying power you want in a great band to keep you on the dance floor all night long! What Somerset couple wouldn’t love to take their first dance to the romantic strains of I’ve Got A Brand New Combine Harvester?
Entertainment from our directory
The Registrars
We have over 100 members of staff all working hard to help you tie the knot. We officiate at over 3000 ceremonies across Somerset and North Somerset every year, so you’re in safe hands here. If you need advice on what you can include in your ceremony, which paperwork you need to provide, or how to give notice at any of our offices, just give our friendly team a call. We love our Somerset weddings, and we’d love to be a part of yours.