Have you ever longed for your own Bridgerton-inspired romance? Whether you're dreaming of saying 'I do' or wishing to renew your vows in true period splendour, now is your chance to step into a love story worthy of the ton.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, we are offering one lucky couple the opportunity to win a Regency-style wedding ceremony or renewal of vows. The grand affair will take place at Bath's Parade Gardens on Saturday, 13 September 2025, and all in attendance, including the couple and registrars, will be dressed in exquisite Regency attire.
What to do
- Simply tell us the title you'd give your love story, if it were made into a novel.
- Be as romantic, witty, or whimsical as you like!
- Entries close on 20 July, so don’t delay; true love waits for no-one.
How to enter
Enter by email, including your contact details: names of couple, telephone number and home postcode.
If you'd prefer to post your entry, please send it, also including your names, telephone number and home postcode, to us at:
Bath and North East Somerset Registration Service
Guildhall
Bath
BA1 5AW
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 13 on the Bandstand in Parade Gardens, after the one-hour-long Jane Austen annual parade, which begins at 11am at the Royal Crescent. A list of costume suppliers will be provided to the competition winners, to help them source their attire for the big day.
Check the terms and conditions
This is a competition to win a wedding ceremony or vow renewal. This includes your registrars and use of the Bandstand in the Parade Gardens for the duration of your ceremony. The ceremony may be photographed and filmed. If so, you will have access to the photos and film. Any footage may be used for future marketing.
The prize doesn't include other expenses and services from other suppliers, such as:
- hair, makeup, flowers and clothing
- any celebrations after the ceremony at another venue
If you are planning a marriage, it is your responsibility to give notice of marriage and pay the statutory fee for your notice to the relevant register office, to ensure your marriage can take place on 13 September 2025. The Bath and North East Somerset registrars will discuss and plan the orchid ceremony for the legal marriage, or the renewal of vows ceremony, with the winning couple at least 3 weeks before the day of the ceremony.
Please read the full competition rules before entering
Win a Regency Style Ceremony Competition to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary year.
The registration service and Bath and North East Somerset Council strongly encourages all entrants to thoroughly read the full competition rules below before entering. If entrants cannot comply with all of the items below, they should not enter.
Eligibility
1.1. The competition is open to couples wishing to marry who have not yet booked their wedding and who can complete the preliminaries to marriage for the ceremony on 13 September 2025 to go ahead, or to couples wishing to renew their marriage or civil partnership vows.
1.2. Couples renewing their vows will need to produce their marriage or civil partnership certificate.
1.3. The competition is open to anyone 18 years or over at the time of entering.
1.4. Bath and North East Somerset council employees, their immediate families (including any live-in partner), or persons directly associated with the council, or this competition, are ineligible to enter. Any entries found in violation of this rule will be disqualified, and we reserve the right to nominate a new winner.
1.5. The registration service reserves the right to verify the age, identity, and eligibility of an entrant at any time. Failure to provide such evidence may result in forfeiture of the prize.
Competition entry
2.1. The competition will run from 00:01 AM on 24 June 2025 to 11:59 PM on 20 July 2025. Entries received outside this period will be void.
2.2. To enter, entrants must use the provided link or send their entry by post. Postal entries must be received by 20 July 2025 to qualify. Entries received after this date will not qualify.
2.3. No alternative verbal entries will be accepted.
2.4. Entrants must provide their full name, valid email address, a postcode of residence, and any other mandatory information requested.
2.6. Entry is free.
2.7. Only one entry per couple is permitted.
2.8. Entries submitted via bots or automated means will be disqualified.
2.9. The decision by the judging panel is final in all matters related to the competition. Should the number of entries be over 100, the entries will be shortlisted by a panel of three for the final decision to be made by the judges.
2.10. Entries that do not comply with these Terms and Conditions will be disqualified.
Prize
3.1. A renewal of vows or wedding ceremony for up to 40 guests to take place on the Bandstand in Parade Gardens Bath 13 September 2025. The prize includes the use of the Bandstand for the duration of the ceremony, the registrars, and officers needed to conduct the ceremony and manage the day. There is only one prize.
3.2. There is no cash alternative. The prize cannot be transferred to another date, another venue, or another couple.
3.3. If a couple are having a marriage, it is the winning couple’s responsibility to give notice of marriage to the relevant registration service to ensure their marriage can take place. The couple must pay the statutory fee for their notice to the relevant register office.
3.4. The ceremony will be photographed and filmed, and the couple will have access to the photos and film. The winning couple will be required to give access to their photography and videography, which may be used in future marketing and public relations in connection with their win. See our privacy notice for more information on the potential use of images for communications and marketing purposes.
3.5. The winner’s photographer and videographer will be credited as standard should any images or videos be used in marketing online and in print.
3.6. If the couple would like to use any other suppliers such as hair, make-up, flowers and clothing, these are to be provided by the couple. If the couple would like to celebrate after their ceremony at a venue, this is to be organised and paid for by the couple.
Winner selection and notification
4.1. The winning entry will be selected by a panel on or after 21 July 2025. If there are over 100 entries, the entries will be shortlisted by a panel of three for the final decision to be made by the judges.
4.2 The winning entry will be published on the Bath and North East Somerset registration pages but not the names of the winners.
4.3. The registration service will attempt to contact the winning couple using the details provided. If the winners cannot be reached within seven days, the prize will be forfeited, and a new winner will be selected.
Liability
5.1. The council is not liable for any loss or damage suffered in connection with this competition.
Data protection
6.1. Entrants’ data will be used for marketing purposes in accordance with the council privacy policy.
6.2. By entering, winners consent to their names and ceremony details being used for publicity purposes.
6.3. The winning couple’s personal information, including name, contact details will be stored securely and used solely for administering the competition and fulfilling the prize. This data will not be shared except as required by law.
Further enquiries
7.1. The Registration Service, The Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW 01225 477234. Email: guildhallweddings@bathnes.gov.uk