Getting married in Brighton? Brighton's weddings with a difference From tying the knot on the Palace Pier to taking the plunge at the Sea Life Centre, Brighton and Hove has plenty of quirky marriage venues. As Concorde 2 becomes the latest venue to offer ceremonies, Lawrence Marzouk looks at some of the more unorthodox locations in and around Brighton and Hove which are now licensed to host your wedding. The days of saying simply "I do" and signing on the dotted line appear long gone. Whether it's gracing a stage which once rocked to the sound of the Foo Fighters or feeding a giant sea turtle after your vows, demands for weddings with a twist are more and more in demand. Concorde 2 is the latest in a string of alternative sites to offer couples a chance to exchange rings in an unusual setting. The venue in Madeira Drive has just been granted a licence to hold marriage and civil partnership ceremonies for the first time and has already secured its first booking. Brighton Town Hall's mayor's parlour, the Royal Pavilion, the Sea Life Centre and the Palace Pier are just a handful of other premises which are cashing in on the growing trend. A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Weddings locally are definitely a growing industry. "We had to take on four more people last year and we're taking on another six this summer - largely to cover paperwork associated with ceremonies. "August 8 is looking really busy because of an unusual date - 8/8/08 - with staff working at 20 ceremonies. But the next day is even busier with 22. "We sometimes have 18 staff out on the road at any one time serving the 40 or so venues in the city. "It's hard to account for the growth in venues other than gradual growing awareness of the business opportunities. "Civil partnerships would have expanded the weddings market locally and increased demand for ceremonies and thereby venues. "The latest to apply are the new Myhotel in Jubilee Square and the Terraces bar on Brighton seafront." From April, the council increased the price of even the most basic wedding at the register office because of increasingly extravagant town hall weddings. The fee has risen to to 325 for a civil ceremony at Brighton Town Hall for the busiest times, an increase of 285. Growing demands for personal marriage vows, music and readings have put pressure on the council's wedding timetable. The council originally allowed for a 30- minute ceremony but due to increasing content weddings were regularly overrunning. She believes couples are now looking for more unique and personal weddings. She said: "Yellowave was special to us because we had spent five years trying to build it. We both love the beach vibe and wanted to get married barefoot." CONCORDE 2 Concorde 2 is the latest venue to secure a licence under the Marriages and Civil Partnership Regulations 2005. Production co-ordinator Trevor Madison said: "People have been enquiring about weddings and we thought what a cool idea to get married on the stage where the Kaiser Chiefs, Scissor Sisters and the Foo Fighters have played. "Some people have been here to many gigs and a lot say they love the Concorde." Within days of the licence being granted, a couple had already booked a ceremony for September and the venue hopes to use the listed Madeira lift for the bride's entrance. SEA LIFE CENTRE Since taking on a wedding licence two years ago, the aquarium has seen a steady current of happy couples. The attraction, according to senior operations manager Jenn Newton, is both the stunning architecture and the creatures of the deep. She said: "The building gets a lot of interest with the Victorian arcades and the mirror maze and it provides for interesting photos. A lot of people want their picture taken with Lou Lou, the giant green turtle, or with the sharks swimming above." Many of those who have tied the knot are marine enthusiasts. Although a ceremony has yet to be held underwater - Ms Newton said that would involve a scuba-diving registrar - marriage proposals have. On one occasion a duplicate wedding ring was slipped into a tank with seahorses, who apparently have a magpie habit of picking up interesting flotsam. The underwater creature glided towards the bride-to-be who accepted the offer. Another proposal didn't go quite so well when a diver held up a sign saying "will you marry me", only for his partner to bolt. THE ROYAL PAVILION Exotic interiors and a colourful past have made the Royal Pavilion a firm favourite for couples. Ceremonies are held in the historic Red Drawing Room which retains much of George IV's original 1820s decorative scheme, with red dragon wallpaper and palm tree pillars. After the ceremony couples can have photographs taken in the glittering Music Room and in the Pavilion Gardens. Receptions are held in the William IV Room but while the palace was historically the scene of much debauchery, those wanting a right royal Bacchanalia will be disappointed - there is a strict no dancing rule. PALACE PIER Brighton's only functioning pier has been offering wedding ceremonies for many years. In 2004, a couple got married there to the sounds of a samba band. Lynne Knight and Dan Challinor tied the knot accompanied by percussion dance band Brinca. Two years earlier a mod-themed Quadrophenia wedding was held. The ceremonies are held in Victoria's Bar and receptions in the Palm Court Restaurant or Horatio's. A spokesman added: "With our funfair, two amusement arcades and the panoramic sea views, the pier is a wonderful setting."

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