Couples seeking a unique wedding experience can now choose from stunning heritage venues in Somerset, including the remarkable Saxon Longhall. The South West Heritage Trust is offering celebrant-led weddings at Avalon Archaeology and the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury, providing a truly distinctive setting for commitment ceremonies.
Among the available venues, the Saxon Longhall at Avalon Archaeology is a faithful recreation of Somerset’s ancient heritage, nestled in the heart of the Avalon Marshes. This intimate venue features a high-table where couples can exchange vows surrounded by family and friends around an open fire, with hand-crafted furniture and authentic art enhancing the atmosphere.
For larger wedding parties, the 14th-century Abbey Barn at Somerset Rural Life Museum is an exceptional choice. Once part of the historic Glastonbury Abbey estate, this grand building blends rustic charm with rich history, making it one of the West Country’s finest event spaces.
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Susie Simmons, Museums Operations Manager, explains, “Our authentic historic venues provide an atmospheric setting for celebrant-led weddings and handfasting ceremonies. Couples can select from period locations evoking Saxon England or medieval Glastonbury to create a ceremony that truly reflects their values and traditions.”
Celebrant-led weddings are ceremonial rather than legally binding, allowing couples to design celebrations that are deeply personal and inclusive of diverse cultures and customs.
Bookings for these unique wedding experiences are now open for summer 2025 and beyond. For details on wedding packages, visit swheritage.org.uk.