Why go all the way to the West Indies when there's a fantastic location right on your doorstep - and without the complication of a foreign wedding certificate!
How about the Isles of Scilly for your wedding or Civil Partnership Formation or Ceremony?
It is straightforward as long as you live in England or Wales.
There are five options, the Register Office at Porthcressa on St. Mary's or one of four Approved Premises, which are the Old Wesleyan Chapel & Juliet's Garden Restaurant on St. Mary's, St. Martins on the Isle Hotel, St. Martins and Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher (Approval expires on 14th July 2008).
The Register Office caters for small (8 people or less total) wedding parties. All the approved premises cater for any number up to 60 or 70, but are equally suitable for small weddings.
The Registrar's fee for a Register Office wedding or Civil Partnership Formation is £40. £3.50 is payable for a wedding certificate.
The wedding area is in part of the Superintendent Registrar's office, accessed via a public shelter, and is literally a small part of an office. However, it is situated on top of the bank overlooking Porthcressa Bay. It is as close to a beach wedding as the law currently allows, and has a wonderful view from just outside.
The Old Wesleyan Chapel itself is an old listed building, tastefully decorated, and with a lovely character and atmosphere, and is a superb venue for a wedding. It is equally suitable for both large and small weddings and is also used as the Council Chamber and Magistrates' Court for the Isles of Scilly.
The fee is between £330 & £434 (Prices may increase from 1st April 2009) depending on the day of the week.
The Registrar's fee for Juliet's Garden will be the same as the Old Wesleyan Chapel, but further information about availability and charges would need to be obtained directly from the restaurant. The phone number is 01720 422228, & the website Juliet's Garden Restaurant
There are no additional costs apart from the fee for the Marriage Certificate which is currently £3.50 per certificate irrespective of the venue.
For the hotels the fee is between £419 & £523 (Prices may increase from 1st April 2009), depending on the day of the week. To find out hotel charges, contact them direct:
St Martins on the Isle Hotel Tel. 01720 422092, website www.stmartinshotel.co.uk
email stay@stmartinshotel.co.uk .
Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher Tel. 01720 422947, website www.hellbay.co.uk
email contactus@hellbay.co.uk
To make a booking, contact the Superintendent Registrar, Jane Hurd: Tel. 01720 424321, email: registration@scilly.gov.uk
You can download a copy of the Weddings on Isles of Scilly Article to browse at your leisure!
For information on the legal preliminaries to be carried out before your marriage, read Guide for Couples marrying in Scilly
For general information on getting married, marriage registration and marriage ceremonies, the General Register Office website is a useful source of information.
