The eight Oldham registered wedding ceremony venues

One of the big decisions couples have to make is the venue, which has to be registered if you want to hold the ceremony there.

This could soon change, however, thanks to proposed changes to marriage law.

According to an overview of the proposal on the government website, the current law creates "unnecessary barriers to marriage and limits choice".

Therefore, the new law seeks to "move away from a system based on the building in which a wedding takes place towards one focused on the officiant responsible for the ceremony".

This means that couples could marry virtually anywhere, provided it is approved by a registered officiant.

A consultation on the reforms is ongoing and set to last until September.

Until then, there are plenty of gorgeous wedding venues in Oldham to consider.

There are eight registered wedding venues in Oldham, according to the council website.

Here’s what we know about them.

Chadderton Town Hall

This Grade II listed Edwardian town hall on Middleton Road boasts a grand staircase, traditional ballroom, and period details that lend themselves to classic wedding photography.

There are different packages and extras couples can choose from, including extended bar opening times, with the simplest package costing around £3,200.

Chadderton Town Hall (Image: Oldham Council)

The Saddleworth Hotel

This is a luxury countryside venue with formal gardens, woodland, and a grand ballroom perfect for statement weddings.

It can cater for small, intimate weddings, as well as larger celebrations.

The Saddleworth Hotel on Coronation Street (Image: ITV/YouTube)

Stables Wedding Farm

This 18th-century listed farmstead in rural Delph offers a rustic, DIY-friendly setting with gardens, games, and Saddleworth moorland views.

The all-inclusive package, which provides for 70 day guests and 110 evening guests, costs £12,900, according to the online brochure.

This includes wedding breakfasts, toasts, evening food, and a Hobbit House for the night.

White Hart Inn

This Lydgate venue is known for its stunning Pennine views.

It has four licensed rooms to choose from, catering for up to 200 guests.

They offer options for wedding breakfasts, evening entertainment, and ceremonies.

Smokies Park Hotel

This is an award-winning hotel on the Oldham–Ashton border, offering modern suites and landscaped grounds for civil ceremonies and receptions.

It can cater for 30 to around 300 guests, with different packages available.

(Image: Smokies Park)

George Street Chapel

This is a Grade II* listed former Methodist chapel in Oldham town centre, restored as a heritage and events space across three floors.

Run by Age UK Oldham, it offers a range of wedding and civil ceremony packages that make use of the historic chapel and ancillary spaces, with different options to match guest numbers and budgets.

Grains Bar Hotel

Located on the Oldham–Yorkshire border, this venue boasts countryside views, gardens, and a mix of indoor and marquee spaces for ceremonies and receptions.

The team offers licensed ceremonies with bespoke wedding packages and flexibility.

Grains Bar Hotel (Image: Open Plan Consultants)

Uppermill Civic Hall

Saddleworth’s civic hall in the centre of Uppermill is a 19th-century events building with plenty of period character and a ballroom.

It can cater for up to 90 guests.