local authority registration service (for the marriage ceremony licence) · Great Britain
Book a restored orangery and walled garden for your wedding
Qualified drivers earn up to £30,000 a year.
Answer three questions and we will tell you whether you can start, what it costs and what to do first. Every fee comes from local authority registration service (for the marriage ceremony licence), not from us.
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Your route
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Open the one you need — most people only need theirs.
Full-Day Exclusive Hire exclusive use, ceremony and reception £13,057 to qualify · earns up to £30,000 · 5 steps
You take the whole site for the day — ceremony in the orangery, drinks in the walled garden, dinner and dancing under one roof.
- 1
View the venue
You walk the orangery and garden with the events team and check your date is free.
- Book a viewing on a weekday or a monthly open Saturday.
- Bring your rough guest number and preferred season.
- Ask to see the space dressed if a wedding set-up is in progress.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Viewing appointment £0 — provider Where people get stuck
- the popular Saturday dates for the next 18 months are already gone
- couples arrive without knowing their budget ceiling and can't commit
- 2
Hold the date
You pay a deposit to take your chosen date off the market.
- Deposit is deducted from the final balance.
- Dates are only held once the deposit clears — a verbal hold lapses in 7 days.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Booking deposit £2,000 — provider Where people get stuck
- a second couple enquiring on the same date during the 7-day verbal hold
- 3
Licence the ceremony
You book the registrar and confirm the venue's ceremony licence covers your date.
- The orangery holds an approved premises licence for civil ceremonies.
- You book two registrars directly through the local authority — this fee is not paid to the venue.
- Give notice of marriage at your local register office at least 29 days before.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Registrar attendance (Saturday) estimate £450–£700 £550 £620 regulator Giving notice of marriage (per person) £42 — regulator Where people get stuck
- registrars book out faster than the venue for peak Saturdays
- couples forget notice must be given in person at their home register office
- 4
Plan menu and drinks
You choose a seasonal menu and confirm catering and bar arrangements.
- Menus rotate by season using produce from the walled garden.
- Tasting evenings run quarterly for booked couples.
- Corkage applies if you supply your own wine instead of the venue list.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Seasonal wedding breakfast (per head) estimate £78–£130 £95 — provider Menu tasting for two £120 — provider Corkage per bottle alternative — not added to the total £18 — provider Where people get stuck
- dietary requirements confirmed too late to source seasonally
- under-estimating drinks means a bar bill that overruns the budget
- 5
Settle the balance and final details
You pay the hire balance and lock the running order six weeks out.
- Final headcount, table plan and timings confirmed at this point.
- Venue hire covers exclusive use from 10:00 the day before for set-up.
- A refundable damage bond is held against the site.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Full-day exclusive hire (peak Saturday) estimate £7,000–£12,000 £9,500 £11,000 provider Refundable damage bond £750 — provider Where people get stuck
- final numbers drop below the minimum spend and the shortfall still falls due
- couples miss the 6-week deadline and lose menu flexibility
What it qualifies you for
- Full wedding day for up to 150 guests — typically £14,000–£30,000 a year. Typical all-in spend for the day including hire, catering and drinks; peak Saturdays for the next two seasons book out fastest.
Walled Garden Ceremony Only outdoor ceremony, off-site reception £4,092 to qualify · earns up to £5,500 · 4 steps
You marry outdoors among the espaliered fruit and lavender, then move your celebration elsewhere.
- 1
View and check the season
You see the garden in the month you're planning for so the planting matches your photos.
- Lavender peaks July; roses June; espaliered fruit blossoms April–May.
- Ask which beds will be in flower on your date.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Viewing appointment £0 — provider Where people get stuck
- couples picture summer planting but book a date in early spring
- 2
Book the ceremony slot
You reserve a garden ceremony window with a deposit.
- Slots are morning or afternoon to allow two ceremonies a day in peak season.
- Deposit secures the date and the orangery fallback.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Ceremony booking deposit £750 — provider Where people get stuck
- afternoon slots clash with off-site reception timings
- 3
Licence the ceremony
You confirm registrar or celebrant and give legal notice.
- The walled garden falls within the approved premises boundary.
- Independent celebrants are not legally binding — a registrar handles the legal marriage separately.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Registrar attendance estimate £450–£650 £500 £590 regulator Giving notice of marriage (per person) £42 — regulator Where people get stuck
- assuming a celebrant-only ceremony is legally married when it is not
- 4
Confirm ceremony hire
You settle the balance for the garden slot and set the running order.
- Includes chairs, arbour dressing and a set-up team.
- Drinks reception can be added in the garden before you leave.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Walled garden ceremony hire estimate £2,200–£4,000 £2,800 £3,400 provider Where people get stuck
- no cars or coaches booked to move guests to the reception on time
What it qualifies you for
- Outdoor ceremony for up to 100 guests — typically £3,500–£5,500 a year. Ceremony-and-photos package before guests move on; the least expensive way to use the site on its most photographed date.
Intimate Orangery Elopement small wedding / elopement package £3,872 to qualify · earns up to £3,500 · 3 steps
A short weekday ceremony in the glasshouse for the two of you and a handful of witnesses, with a set menu lunch.
- 1
Pick a weekday date
You choose an available weekday and hold it.
- Elopement rates apply Monday to Thursday only.
- Lead time can be as short as eight weeks plus legal notice.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Booking deposit £400 — provider Where people get stuck
- the 28-day minimum notice period rules out a very short timeline
- 2
Give notice and book the registrar
You complete the legal notice at your register office.
- Both of you attend your local register office in person.
- Book the registrar for the venue date directly with the local authority.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Registrar attendance (weekday) estimate £300–£500 £380 — regulator Giving notice of marriage (per person) £42 — regulator Where people get stuck
- couples living in different districts must each give notice separately
- 3
Confirm the package
You settle the balance and choose your set lunch.
- Includes orangery ceremony, a glass of fizz and a two-course lunch for up to 20.
- Optional photographer and cake add-ons.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Elopement package (up to 20 guests) estimate £1,800–£3,200 £2,400 — provider Photographer add-on estimate £500–£900 £650 — other Where people get stuck
- adding guests above 20 pushes you onto the full hire rate
What it qualifies you for
- Weekday elopement for up to 20 guests — typically £2,400–£3,500 a year. Smallest package; steady weekday demand from couples marrying without a big reception.
Winter Orangery Wedding off-peak indoor wedding £8,032 to qualify · earns up to £18,000 · 4 steps
The full indoor experience at off-peak rates, with the glasshouse lit and the walled garden dormant but frost-pretty.
- 1
View in winter light
You see the heated orangery as it looks on a short day.
- Ask about heating, candlelight and early sunset timings for photos.
- Winter Saturdays cost far less than summer ones.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Viewing appointment £0 — provider Where people get stuck
- underestimating how early the light goes in December
- 2
Hold the date
You secure an off-peak date with a deposit.
- Off-peak deposits are lower than peak-season ones.
- January and February have the widest availability.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Booking deposit £1,200 — provider Where people get stuck
- December Saturdays near Christmas book up like peak dates
- 3
Licence and plan
You book the registrar and choose a winter menu.
- Winter menus lean on stored and root produce from the garden.
- Give legal notice at least 29 days before.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Registrar attendance estimate £450–£650 £500 £590 regulator Winter menu (per head) estimate £68–£110 £82 — provider Where people get stuck
- guests reluctant to travel Cotswold lanes in bad weather
- 4
Settle the balance
You pay the off-peak hire balance and confirm timings.
- Includes exclusive use of the orangery and lit garden for photos.
- Damage bond held as with peak hire.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Winter exclusive hire estimate £4,000–£7,500 £5,500 £6,500 provider Refundable damage bond £750 — provider Where people get stuck
- snow or ice contingency for supplier access not planned
What it qualifies you for
- Off-peak winter wedding for up to 130 guests — typically £9,000–£18,000 a year. Same indoor experience at roughly 40% less than a peak Saturday; growing demand from budget-conscious couples.
Work out your own total Retakes, evening and weekend test slots
Totals come from the same figures as the routes. Change anything and the number changes with it.
About these figures
The figures on this page are illustrative and have not been checked against local authority registration service (for the marriage ceremony licence). Confirm before budgeting.
Figures cover England only; ceremony fees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ.
Questions people actually ask
Can we get legally married on site or is it just a blessing?
Both the orangery and the walled garden are within our approved premises licence, so a registrar can legally marry you here. An independent celebrant can lead the ceremony but is not legally binding on its own.
Do you have exclusive use?
Yes. Full-day and winter hire give you the whole site with no other weddings that day. Ceremony-only and elopement slots may share the day in peak season.
What is your capacity?
Up to 150 seated for a full-day reception, 130 in the winter layout, 100 standing for a garden ceremony, and 20 for an elopement.
Is there a noise curfew?
Amplified music must stop by 23:30 to meet our licence conditions. Acoustic music and the bar can continue a little later.
Can we bring our own caterer or drinks?
Catering is provided in-house using the walled garden's produce. You may supply your own wine subject to corkage; spirits and beer come from our bar.
What happens if it rains on a garden ceremony?
The orangery is held as your wet-weather fallback at no extra charge. We make the call with you on the morning.
Talk to someone
Leave your number and we will call you back with a plan for your route.
Or call 01451 000000.
Or email weddings@cotswoldorangery.example.