Weddings at Christchurch Council Chamber - is it for you ?

Weddings could be on the agenda at

Christchurch’s

Council Chamber as the Council’s Resources Committee are due to consider

proposals for the venue to be used as a Registry Office. 

Currently four venues are licensed to

hold weddings and civil ceremonies in the Borough – Highcliffe Castle,

The Captain’s Club Hotel, Christchurch Harbour Hotel and The Kings

Hotel. However there is no Registry Office in Christchurch for people

who may want a more simple ceremony. 

Research has shown that between May and

October 2009 42 marriages or civil partnership ceremonies of

Christchurch

couples were held in Registry Offices outside the Borough. By licensing

the Chamber at the Civic Offices, these ceremonies could be held in

the Borough with the attendant economic benefits to local businesses

for receptions and other wedding services. 

Even if the Resources Committee decides

to support the proposal, Dorset Registration Service will still have

to apply to Dorset County Council for a licence to use the Chamber for

these ceremonies. The Registration Service, which currently uses the

Civic Offices as a venue for licensing births, marriages and deaths,

has suggested that the Chamber would be ideal for weddings and civil

ceremonies. 

As the Civic Offices are used during

the normal working week, ceremonies would be restricted to a certain

number of Saturdays per year, initially proposed as every other Saturday

or 26 during the year. 

Cllr Mike Duckworth, chairman of the

Resources Committee, said: “This seems like a very good opportunity

that would benefit everyone – this Council would make some extra income,

local people would be able to have a Registry Office in their home town

and local companies would have more business. 

Do you think it's a good idea and something the community would welcome ?