Wedding couples may shortly be able to tie the knot amidst the unique floral splendour of Ventnor Botanic Gardens (VBG).

The IW Council is seeking to license the internationally renowned gardens as a venue for weddings and civil partnerships. It will then become another location for couples to choose from following the closure of the council’s current ceremony facilities at Northwood House.

For those wanting something a little more straight-forward, the council will be looking to offer two rooms at its Seaclose offices in Newport. The first is a purely functional room with space for four guests. The second is a larger room that will, subject to licensing, be available at weekends and accommodate up to 15 guests.

Under the move away from Northwood House – where conditions are no longer suitable to host ceremonies – the registrars who provide a service for the registration of all Island births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and citizenship ceremonies will in future be based at Seaclose.  The moves come as the council’s cabinet committee tonight (Tuesday) agreed proposals to formally withdraw council services from Northwood House.

On the new wedding room arrangements, Chris Mathews, IW Council head of democratic services, said:

“The choices of the central location afforded by Seaclose – with picture opportunities at the riverside – and the exotic and natural appeal of VBG should offer couples-to-be a good choice of council-run facilities in which to hold a ceremony.

“It should also be remembered that there are also upwards of 25 other premises across the Island that are licensed to host wedding or civil partnership ceremonies. There are more choices than ever before, certainly since the days in the not too distant past when the only location licensed for marriage was at the Coppins Bridge end of County Hall.

“The room at Seaclose will enable us to meet our statutory requirement to provide a room as well as give a more central base for the registrars for births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships with whom the public have most day to day dealings.

“But the council will also be looking to licence VBG as another venue. This will provide couples with further choice and also help the IW Council make maximum use of one of its best-loved facilities.”

Earlier this year the council announced its intention to move away from Northwood House at the end of September. The council has also contacted the nine couples with firm bookings to explain the latest situation to them and in many instances alternative wedding plans have already been arranged with the registrars.

For couples who have already booked (and paid notice fees) after 30th September 2010, Ventnor Botanic Gardens is being offered as an alternative to Northwood House at no extra cost to them.

Fees charged for subsequent bookings will be charged at the appropriate rate.”

After 1st October 2010 the Register Office contact details will be as follows: telephone numbers (01983) 823 233 or (01983) 82 1000, email registrars@iow.gov.uk or at Seaclose offices, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS.