The Sefton and BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel & Casino have become the first hotels in the Island to be granted three-year licences to stage civil weddings. Both hotels have been popular choices for wedding receptions for many years – and now couples can tie the knot there too, meaning they can have their entire wedding day in just one venue. It follows a change in the law earlier this year which allows couples to marry in venues other than churches and registry offices. The Sefton Group applied for ‘Approved Place’ status for both hotels, and this has now been granted. The Sefton offers three separate venues – its spectacular Atrium Water Garden, with adjacent Garden Room, which has a capacity of 130, the intimate Cowell Suite, suitable for up to 40 guests, and the Harris Room, which can accommodate up to 60 guests. At the BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel & Casino, couples have two popular venues to choose from – the Shearwater Suite, suitable for up to 150 guests, and the Cushag Suite, with a capacity of 250. Sefton Group Hotels Manager Paul Forrest explained: ‘We’re delighted that both hotels have been granted Approved Place status. We stage many wedding receptions each year, and often couples tell us that, if they could, they’d have been married at the same venue as the reception. ‘It’s a logical extension for us and we’re sure both venues will prove to be increasingly popular. In effect, the new law means couples can be married at our hotels at any time of the day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – providing the Registrar agrees, of course! ‘As a showcase for what we can do at both hotels, The Sefton Wedding Fair will be held on February 18 from 1.00pm till 4.00pm. We’ve a host of exhibitors booked to attend and there should be everything a prospective bride and groom need to plan their special day.’ Among the exhibitors at The Sefton Wedding Fair will be Balloons To Go, Freedom Travel, Marianne McCourt Photography, Island Chocolate Fountains, Platinum Cars, Shan’s Photography, Steve Woodley Photography Graih My Chree Stationary and Switched On Entertainment. For further information, including hire costs, please contact The Sefton on 645501 or the BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel & Casino on 682716. ENDS