We may not have ocean-lapped, white sandy beaches or remote, mountain-top chapels but our local areas have a fantastic range of wedding venues in which to tie the knot.

From manor houses to heritage gardens, schools to safari parks, if it’s your idea of the perfect wedding venue, it’s right here on your doorstep.

Less than 20 years ago if you wanted to get married in the UK you had to decide between a church wedding and a hurried, no-frills registry office ceremony.

These days, as long as you adhere to certain restrictions regarding the inclusion of religious elements, you can have a civil wedding ceremony in as grand or as intimate a venue as you wish.

And you can personalise the service to include your own vows, favourite poems, readings and music to your heart’s content.

If only a church wedding will do then you’ll need to check out what stipulations are required (www.yourchurchwedding.org) but as long as both vicar and church are available you don’t have to get married on a Saturday, which can get booked up years in advance.

There are even more possibilities locally when it comes to choosing where to have your wedding reception.

Whether it’s a slap-up, sit-down dinner eaten to the strains of a classical string quartet, a fun, finger-food buffet with disco and dancing ‘til late or a Caribbean barbecue  and jump-up outdoors on a hot summer night it’s all right here in Bedfordshire (MK, Northants).

You choose; it’s your very special day.