Crematorium to host weddings ‘in the same way as any church’

Kettering Borough Council say the Warren Hill grounds, which currently include the Kettering Crematorium is an ideal venue for weddings, in the same way as any church or hotel does multiple ceremonies. 

The area also has woodland, burial grounds and two chapels. 

The council was asked if the venue did weddings and a trial was done and a planning application has been submitted.

Kettering Borough Council said in a statement bookings will be handled separately from the funeral business, and neither should have any negative impact on the other.

They added that the venue is modern , in an attractive setting and “hopes to become a welcome addition to the range of wedding venues across the Borough in 2018.” 

Some work is being done to the adjacent garden to make it suitable for photographs and as a possible outdoor venue, as well as its continuing role as a garden of peace and reflection in support of the bereavement service. 

Shirley Plenderleith, Head of Public Services at Kettering Borough Council said: “It has capacity at the weekends especially and we have taken the suggestion of some of our customers to work up a plan for its use as a wedding venue. We hope that, on the back of proving we can run one of the best funeral venues in the country, we can, equally successfully provide a great wedding experience as well.” 

Cllr Ian Jelley at the Council said:“This is a great idea to improve the services we provide for local people, to make even better use of one of our best assets and to earn additional income for the Council tax payers of the Borough. I am confident that the team which already runs an excellent, value for money service:  can also sensitively and professionally run a Wedding venue at the Warren Hill site”.

Kettering crematorium in Northamptonshire is moving towards using a venue normally for funerals for weddings as well.