Please mention Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding when contacting wedding service providers.
Somerset Registration Service provide civil ceremonies, and much more, for the councils in Somerset and North Somerset. We hold over 3000 ceremonies every year and our team are genuinely passionate about making each and every one memorable and unique. Hand on heart, we think this is the best place in the world to get married, form a partnership, renew your vows or celebrate your new child.
To help you find inspiration for your big day, take a look at what's caught the eye of our editors.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, products and services from wedding suppliers across the UK along with links to their web sites as pointed out by our ever resourceful team.
Take a look at what our Editors Love!
Bristol’s directory of independent shopping locations has relaunched
Bristol's directory of independent shopping locations has relaunched this year, focusing on locally-made, unique, consciously-created products, for customers who want to support small businesses.
The online directory is a collection of fantastic independents offering a diverse range of products from jewellery to plants, homewares to clothes. It's a great place to look if you want to support Bristol businesses when compiling your wedding gift list and can find everything you could need to start your married life together all in one place, as well as thoughtful gifts for your wedding party. Whether you decide to shop in store or online, the support for your neighbourhood shops will always be appreciated.
Posted: 2 February 2023
Honeymooning in your married name
If you are dreaming of jetting off to sandy shores with your sparkling new ring, spouse and matching passports...then this guide from NameSwitch will tell you how to make your dreams come true. Please do have a proper think about whether having matching passports straight away is really that important to you because, trust us when we say, it's not an easy thing to pull off! With recent changes to how processes work, effects of the Pandemic, and added complications like not being handed your marriage certificate on your wedding day, or needing the name on your NHS records to be the same as the one on your passport, an already stressful undertaking just got even more nail-biting! Now it's not mission impossible, but you do need 3 key things to be aligned (and nerves of steel) if this is going to work...
Posted: 2 January 2023
Outdated wedding laws need to change
In an article earlier this year there was discussion and praise aimed towards the Government's plans to allow outdoor weddings to be made permanent. The article also highlighted the eagerly awaited Law Commission report into marriage laws, which was due to be published in July. Now it has been published and we have had some time for the dust to settle, Kate Van Rol, Barrister at 4PB has looked into these recommendations, "Are wedding laws at present 'confusing, outdated and restrictive' as the Commission suggest, or would the implementation of their suggestions trivialise weddings and commercialise the ceremony?". Kate continues...
Posted: 14 December 2022
If you're recently engaged, you may well be wondering where to start at this point. A question we often get asked is: what happens once the venue is booked – how do we sort out the legal bit? We turned to the Somerset Registration Service's marketing officer, Amber Packer-Hughes, for advice.
Amber says, "The most important next step is to book your registrar. We take bookings up to two years ahead here in Somerset, though other districts vary. Do be flexible about the exact ceremony time, in case registrars already have a lot of bookings in their diary. We'll always do our best to fit your plans and normally have space, but there are only so many 2pm slots we can offer!
Posted: 22 February 2022
What's that? Even MORE wedspiration from CWM!
Here at CMW HQ we're literally never satisfied when it comes to providing our readers with enough wedspiration. Because, really, what is enough? We'd go on forever if we could. So, with that in mind, we've created our very own County Wedding Magazines YouTube channel, just for you. Find tons of big-day ideas from venue tours to dream dresses. Catch up on beauty reviews and how tos from our beauty editor and peek behind the scenes of styled shoots featured in our titles past and present. You can even be a fly on the wall at some real weddings - after all, if we're honest, who doesn't love being a bit nosey! And we haven't stopped there, as you'll also find local supplier interviews packed with tips and tricks.
Posted: 5 November 2021
Get sparkly this October in aid of Brain Tumour Support
With the help of some well-known celebrities, including Joel Dommett from the Masked Singer; Joel's wife, model Hannah Cooper; and comedian Jayde Adams, Bristol-based Brain Tumour Support is encouraging people across the UK to sign up to their Sparkle Up Your Day campaign, raising funds for their vital support services. Joel and Hannah are calling on everyone to get involved, saying: "We love the idea of Sparkle Up Your Day. Everyone needs something sparkly in their life and what better way to support the amazing work that Brain Tumour Support does."
Posted: 5 October 2021
Mural revitalises gateway to Bristol's Old City
A new mural designed by Bristol artist Andy Council, celebrating the unique history around the Medieval gateway to the Old City, has been revealed. The artwork, which features on the two pedestrian side arches under the Church of St John on the Wall, Broad Street, depicts four beasts made up of architectural landmarks found in the Old City area, as well as some of the architectural features found inside St John's crypt, and is part of a wider programme of artist commissions connected to the pedestrianisation of the Old City.
Posted: 9 September 2021
When Mark Lee from Mark Lee Photography set up this shoot at Cheshire's Park Manor, he wanted to seek out like minded suppliers to collaborate on creating stunning inclusive images; and what better showcase this gorgeous shoot than Pride Month! Mark says, "For months I've been coming across posts on Facebook on issues from the LGBTQ+ community over double standards within the wedding industry. Some finding that they were being charged more or that some suppliers just wouldn't work with a same sex couple. Then a supplier wanted to know how to create a logo for same sex supplier so not to offend. And another supplier unsure how to word his contract... this got me thinking. Why is this so difficult? Why does there need to be an issue regardless of who you are and who you want to marry? The law has changed so why are people still living in the dark ages? It's time to accept everyone."
Posted: 11 June 2021
