With its proximity to London and the millions who live within its confines, civil ceremonies in Essex have always been popular. The county offers a wide range of different buildings and landscapes, many of which are often enveloped with that famous Anglian sky - so loved by the British painter Constable.

While the billowing Essex cloud formations backed by clear blue is something that inspires romance in many people visiting the region, it is arguably the facilities in the area that attract many wedding planners. Indeed, civil ceremonies in Essex can be carried out by a wide range of different licensed establishments, that combine the space needed for the ceremony itself with adjacent facilities for the post-ceremonial party. For many wedding-goers, the party afterwards is really the magical time, when old friends and family are reunited on a scale seldom seen in many familial groups.

But what makes a good venue for civil ceremonies? Essex offers a range of facilities that offer everything from historical settings to modern comfort. It is important to book a space that can handle the amount of guests you plan to invite. Equally, if you only plan to have a small wedding, then it is true to say that you only need a more modest space. There is perhaps no point having just 20 people in a space that can hold 150 - so this aspect needs some serious consideration.

For many people, food is one of the most important aspects of a successful wedding celebration, and as such this area needs to be looked into very carefully when planning civil ceremonies. Essex offers caterers that make food for all kinds of customer (or simply 'diner', in the case of a pre-organised wedding), so that Vegetarians, vegans, Muslims and many other groups of people who require special kinds of food can enjoy wedding ceremonies as much as the meat eaters.

Depending on the kind of ceremony that you want for your civil ceremony in Essex, you may well wish to consider what kind of dancing space you'll need for the after ceremony party. Often, these dancing spaces are part of the overall function area, although in some circumstances (involving building design and layout) you might have the option of hiring an extra room for a disco.

From Romford to Colchester, from Chelmsford to Clacton-on Sea, the range of places to have civil ceremonies in Essex are varied and the internet perhaps provides the best way of finding the ideal venue for your wedding.