This form is for venues who fall into one of two categories:

  • venues who do not have a current licence
  • venues who need to renew their licence, and make changes at the same time. This could include adding extra licenced areas or change of venue’s name.

If your venue needs to renew their licence with no changes, please complete the renewal form instead of this form.

If your venue has a current licence, and you want to make changes to the licence before the expiry date of your licence, please complete the variation form instead of this form.

The form below will go through the information and documents needed for your application.

Application for ceremonies licence

Application form for premises to be approved as a venue for marriages in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and civil partnerships in pursuance of section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004. This application must be made by the proprietor or a trustee of the premises.

  • Venue details

  • Please note: this is exactly how the venue's name will appear on the licence, and cannot be changed during the duration of the licence.
  • This is the person who will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the licence requirements are met, and will be the named contact for our office in regards to ceremonies.
  • Please list the rooms/ areas you want to hold ceremonies in, and the maximum number of people that can be in each room/area for a ceremony, as permitted by the venue's fire risk assessment. Please include the couple, the two registrars, all guests, suppliers and venue staff present in the room/area during the ceremony in this number.
    Name of room/ areaCapacity for ceremony 
  • If you have outdoor areas you would like to licence, please state your plan for bad weather on the ceremony date. This is usually either moving the ceremony inside to a stated licenced room, which will be reserved and set out for a ceremony, or covering the area with a marquee prior to the ceremony day.
  • Please list the name of the room where the registrars can conduct the legal interviews with the couple 15 minutes before the ceremony. The room must be large enough to hold four people, and contain a desk and four chairs. If you have several ceremony rooms/areas and you want to use different interview rooms depending on the ceremony location, please list all interview rooms you want to use.

  • Supporting documents

    Please attach your documents below. If your files are too large to attach to this form, please, please email them to venueapproval@islington.gov.uk after completing this form.

  • Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 24 MB.
    • Drop files here or
      Max. file size: 24 MB.
      • This must be dated within the last 12 months.
        Drop files here or
        Max. file size: 24 MB.
        • This should be a short written document outlining the facilities and access strategy for your venue. Please click here to see an example access strategy document.
          Drop files here or
          Max. file size: 24 MB.

          • If you have not already received this, please email the City of London planning department to request this before applying.

            Drop files here or
            Max. file size: 24 MB.
            • Drop files here or
              Max. file size: 24 MB.

              • Payment details

                The licence fee is currently £1827 for a 5-year licence.

                You can either pay by online form or send a cheque payable to 'London Borough of Islington' to Wayne Woodrup, Islington Register Office, Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1 2UD. No other payment methods are available.

              • Applicant confirmations

              • You can view the health and safety requirements below: