A church ceremony is ideal if you want a religious wedding, but it isn’t always convenient if the church is a long way from the reception venue.
How about choosing a wedding venue with a chapel on site instead? Wedding venues with their own chapels mean you can host a religious wedding ceremony in the same location as your reception and save guests the hassle of travelling between the two.
There are stunning wedding venues with small churches or chapels up and down the UK, with many country estates and stately homes offering a chapel in the grounds where you can exchange vows. We’re found you the best wedding venues with chapels so you can combine a traditional service with the ease of staying in one location for the whole day.
What Is the Difference Between a Church and a Chapel
Good question! A church is any place of worship that has a permanent congregation and is run by a vicar, priest or rector. It can be any size and come in any Christian denomination. A chapel is usually a small room that has no permanent congregation and is not run by a vicar etc.
Basically, if you can go in on a Sunday and it has a regular service led by the same vicar, it’s a church; if it’s a special space you can pop into to pray (you might notice chapels in most airports), it’s a chapel.
Do We Need to Live in the Parish to Marry in the Chapel?
No, an engaged couple don’t need to live in the parish to get legally married at the church if the church or chapel has family significance or a special connection for the couple. A change in Church of England law allowed couples to bypass the need to live in the parish if they met one of seven connections with the parish, which include that one of you was baptised or confirmed there; that one of your parents has lived in the parish for more than six months after you were born; or that your parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
Speak to the individual vicar to find out whether they allow your connection with the parish, otherwise you will need to attend church services there for six months ahead of your big day.
If We Have a Civil Ceremony, Can We Have a Church Blessing?
Yes, many couples choose to have a special blessing after a civil ceremony. You might wish to have your legal civil ceremony before your wedding day and then have a blessing ceremony followed by a reception.
Can We Marry in a Chapel if One or Both of Us Is Divorced?
Church of England rules now allow divorced parties to marry in a church or chapel, but a decision is made individually for each couple. You will need to meet with the Rector of the church to discuss your situation. If you can’t be married at the church or chapel, you can still have a marriage blessing there.
