The location of a wedding can make a real difference to your day. A romantic castle, a traditional church, or even on top of London Bridge – each venue creates a completely different atmosphere. Wedding insurance also makes a difference, as it will protect you financially if the venue cannot hold the event.

Before you decide where you’re going to get married, you will need to think of the legal implications: not all venues are licensed to hold a marriage ceremony. In England, Wales and Scotland, marriages and civil partnerships can take place at: a register office; a building that has been approved for civil marriage, such as a stately home or hotel; or a church or any other registered religious building. Unfortunately, you can’t get married outdoors or in temporary structures like marquees.

If you would like to find your local register office to have a non-religious ceremony, you can contact your local borough General Register Office. If you’d like to marry in a religious building, however, you will need to speak with the person who would officiate over your marriage there. They may have certain requirements about how often you worship, or where you live.

Perhaps a traditional church or country house is not what you’re looking for. If you would like to have a wedding or civil partnership ceremony in a more unusual location, there are plenty to choose from. The Natural History Museum will open its historic doors for your ceremony to take place under their vaulted ceilings and intricate arches. You’ll even have your dinner in the company of an impressive diplodocus skeleton!

If you want to take your guests up to dizzy heights, then perhaps London’s Tower Bridge would be a venue to look at. You can enjoy stunning views over London as you say your vows in the Bridge Master’s dining room and then enjoy a glass of champagne forty five meters above the Thames on the bridge’s walkway or in the Victorian Engine Room.

After you have taken so much time to find a special venue, you will want to make sure you are financially protected against anything going wrong. In the worst case scenario, your venue might not be able to hold the event because of closure, damage, or any other unforeseen event. Your insurance policy will usually pay up to the amount stated in your schedule of cover in case your wedding needs to be delayed or cancelled as a result of problems with the venue. Bad weather is also accounted for, as your wedding insurance will usually cover costs incurred if your guests can’t reach the venue due to adverse weather conditions.