Marriage - What you need to know

Information about wedding arrangements and civil marriages in Dorset.

Dorset County Council is responsible for providing civil marriages in the county of Dorset. You may choose to hold a civil marriage in:

The Register Office
Council office ceremony rooms
Approved venues

Details about each venue can be found on our marriage venues in Dorset page.

For further information about getting married in Dorset you can download a copy of our 'Your Dorset Ceremony' [2Mb] (opens in a new window) brochure. (This will take approximately 13 seconds if you have a broadband connection or 7.5 minutes for dial up connection) or contact us for a copy.

Legal obligations

The UK Government website DirectGov (opens in a new window) contains general information about getting married, including your legal obligations.

Booking arrangements
Information about booking a marriage ceremony for your wedding.
Marriage - renewal ceremonies
Information about renewal of vows ceremonies in Dorset