How about a wedding at a Cambridge College!

​Get married at a Cambridge college

There are no wedding venues in Cambridge that are more iconic than Cambridge colleges.
​We have an impressive combination of splendid architecture, romantic grounds and well-maintained gardens. Deeply filled with history, they are not just grand venues to get married in but they also provide a meaningful setting of significance and value. Not surprisingly, Cambridge colleges are often the natural choice for their current and former members.

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Civil Ceremonies and Receptions​

Many of the Cambridge colleges have opened their doors to the general public and sought to provide their unique facilities
​for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Many are also licensed to hold civil ceremonies (see the list below). Each of the individual colleges can provide dedicated services and bespoke packages to suit a range of different needs.

Weddings at college chapels – only for those with a connection to the college ​

A college chapel is a splendid choice for a place to tie the knot in a religious ceremony. To be able to get a licence to get married there,
you do need to have a connection to the college or to the chapel, such as being a former or current member of the college, a member of staff,
​the child of a member of the college etc.

Date Restrictions ​​

There might be restrictions on the availability of the facilities during certain periods of the year.
Some college venues are only available for weddings during college vacation. Others might limit their availability during the exam periods.
​However, Madingley Hall – a Cambridge University conferencing venue (not a college) - is available all year round. ​

What to expect ​ ​

The drinks’ reception often takes place in the college’s well-maintained college grounds or gardens.
A good few colleges boast of stunning riverside grounds and you might even decide to book a punting tour for yourselves and your guests.
Colleges provide their own catering services and packages to suit different requirements.
The main reception itself normally takes place at the college hall. Many of them feature high ceilings
and intricately decorated wooden wall panelling or even stained glass windows.
The walls can display paintings of former important members of the respective college. Often there is a small podium and space for the main table.
​ Long tables are normally arranged in lines and on the tables you will find college-crested stationary, cutlery, china and more.
​

So which colleges are available to the public?

​Here is the list of colleges based on what services they offer.

​
​Civil ceremony + wedding reception ​

Clare College
Corpus Christi College
Downing College
Girton College
Gonville & Caius College
Homerton College
Jesus College
Madingley Hall (not a college, this is Cambridge University conferencing venue)
Magdalene College
Newnham College
Queens' College
Selwyn College
Trinity Hall
​(source: ​CAMBRIDGESHIRE CEREMONIES)​

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​Wedding reception only​

Clare Hall
Emmanuel College
Fitzwilliam College
Hughes Hall
King's College
Lucy Cavendish College
Murray Edwards College
Peterhouse
Robinson College
Sidney Sussex College
St Catharine's College
St Edmund's College
​St John's College ​

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