Wedding venue

Harbour View Suite

This is a beautiful, light and airy room located on the second floor, with doors that open onto your own private balcony that enjoys grand sweeping views of the bay.

Soak up the atmosphere and watch the boats sailing past. It is a very special venue for up to 60 guests for your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception (please note that bands and discos are not permitted in this suite).

A very special venue for up to 60 guests.

Waterfront Suite

This delightful suite on the ground floor is perfect for drinks and photos, as it offers direct access to the waterfront terrace which borders the harbour. The suite can accommodate up to 200 guests for the ceremony, 150 for the wedding breakfast and a maximum of 200 for the evening reception (depending upon seating arrangement requirements), but can also be specially tailored for smaller parties to provide a more intimate setting.

At the RNLI we believe in excellence in everything we do, from saving lives to delighting brides. We offer fine dining, drinks throughout your special day and a comprehensive choice of menus that are combined with our attractive waterfront function rooms to make your special day at the College even more memorable.

• Red carpet welcome
• Bucks fizz or Pimm's reception
• Three-course wedding breakfast with coffee and petit fours
• Half a bottle of house wine per guest
• A glass of champagne for the toast
• Cake stand and knife
• White linen and napkins
• Printed menus for the tables
• Use of the waterfront terrace (subject to availability)
• Complimentary harbour view bedroom on the wedding night
• Wedding coordinator
• Event manager on the day
• Complimentary car parking
• Wedding menu tasting for the wedding couple
• Free introductory RNLI shoreline membership for the wedding couple for a year
• First year anniversary dinner for two in Riggers Restaurant.

2012 rates

£59.00 per guest

2013 rates

£62.00 per guest

(Minimum of 30 guests to attend the wedding breakfast)

Download our wedding brochure.

It’s the little touches that can make your celebration extra special. Your wedding favours will give your guests a truly unique reminder of your special day. At the RNLI we can supply memorable and unusual gifts, with prices starting from as little as a £1.

To view wedding favours please visit the RNLI shop site.

Our waterside venue is fully licensed to hold your civil partnership or marriage ceremony, and is the perfect setting to make your day truly memorable.

Whether you want a small and intimate ceremony or are planning a larger event, we can help you organise your perfect day.

Just as each couple is unique, each ceremony is unique, and to help make your day perfect we have a dedicated coordinator who will work with you to provide a smooth, worry-free day.

The venue charges shown below are applicable when booked in conjunction with our Wedding Breakfast Package and include a red-carpeted central aisle.

For ceremony-only venue charges, please contact the Wedding Coordinator on 01202 663489.

We are licensed by Poole Register Office. However, you will need to contact them directly on 01202 633744 or email registrars@poole.gov.uk to book the registrar and to confirm details. The registrar fees are handled separately by Poole Register Office.

Venue rates

Harbour View Suite – £295 (up to 60 guests)

Waterfront Suite – £350 (up to 200 guests)

We have other rooms available for smaller parties. Please ask for more information.

​Dance the night away at RNLI College in our newly refurbished Waterfront Suite, which can accommodate a maximum of 200 guests (depending upon seating arrangement requirements), with a DJ or band. The suite has doors that open onto our waterfront terrace, a perfect setting for evening drinks.

We can cater for smaller, more intimate evening receptions for up to 60 guests in our Harbour View Suite, but discos and bands cannot be accommodated in this suite.

At the college we offer two buffet options, which include room hire when booked in conjunction with our Wedding Breakfast Package (subject to minimum numbers). For details regarding evening-only receptions, please contact the Wedding Coordinator on 01202 663489. 

Evening buffet menus

£15 per guest:

• Selection of mini bridge rolls

• Vegetable Spring rolls with chilli dipping sauce

• Chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce

• Lifeboat Ale chipolatas with honey mustard sauce

• Local goat's cheese, tomato and basil tarts

• Chocolate brownies

• Lemon meringue tarts

£17.50 per guest: 

• Selection of mini bridge rolls

• Vegetable samosas with madras mayonnaise

• Lemon and cracked pepper chicken

• Local goat's cheese and basil tarts

• Selection of West Country and continental meats, pickles and chutneys

• Cajun potato wedges with a selection of dips and mayonnaise

• Lemon posset

• Chocolate and pistachio tarts

£3.50 per item:

Why not end the evening with one of our delicious late-night snacks?*

• Bacon rolls

• Hot dogs

• Mini burgers

• Toasted cheese and tomato ciabatta

* These are not available as a substitute for a buffet option. Late-night snacks to be served no later than 10pm.