A NEW wedding venue for Helston will be showing what it can offer when it hosts a wedding fair next month.

The town’s historic Guildhall is now licensed for ceremonies and the town council, which owns the building, will be opening it up to potential brides and grooms to look around on Sunday, April 15.

At the wedding fair, which has free entry from 11am to 3pm, there will also be wedding industry businesses showing what they can provide, from sweet carts to wedding dresses, decorations and flowers.

The Guildhall, at the top of Coinagehall Street, is now licensed for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies in three of its rooms, for the next three years.

The smallest is the mayor’s parlour, which has been used by mayors since 1839 and is now available for intimate ceremonies with close family and friends, going up to the other end of the scale with the council chamber - a former court room that holds up to to 100 guests and gives happy couples the chance to say their vows from the dock while their guests watch on from the jury box, should they so wish.

The Corn Exchange, where Flora Day dancers assemble before each dance, is also available, having been recently refurbished. It has been used continuously for markets and town events since 1839 and is licensed for 50 guests.

It was a request from a couple to marry in the Corn Exchange that prompted the town council to get the building licensed in the first place. Becky Watson and Ian Wheeler became engaged there at the end of last year’s Midday Dance on Flora Day, and dreamed of marrying in the same venue.

Last June the town council agreed to pay the £1,525 fee to licence the building.

The charge to marry there is £432 for the council chamber and Corn Exchange, or £240 for the mayor's parlour, with both prices inclusive of VAT and for two days, in order for the venue to be set up the day before.

A number of weddings have been booked at the Guildhall already, including into next year.