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Registry office weddings - Your complete guide

Andy Kerr

Registry office weddings - Answers to your questions

How would you feel about having a registry office ceremony?

There are some amazing registry offices in the UK, and I bet they’re not what you’re imagining!

So if you’re wondering about if you should, and how to get married at a registry office, a registry office wedding cost, and more - this page is written just for you.

It’s important that you have all the facts so you can make the right decision, so let’s continue first to some ‘reasons why’ it could be right for you…

Reasons to get married at a registry office

There are plenty of reasons to get married at a registry office.

Maybe you’re not comfortable with the traditional white wedding thing and want to keep your day more casual, or you want more freedom to have a ceremony sentimentally suited to you.

Are you pressed for time, non-religious, or sorting out the legal side of things before jetting off to an amazing destination wedding?

You can still make it a beautiful and personal part of an amazing wedding day full of family, friends and celebrations!

Questions & Answers

Here are the answers to all of the questions I get asked.

If yours isn’t answered here, make sure to leave a comment further below. I’ll post an answer and let you know when it’s done!

Register Office or Registry Office?

Most people call it a ‘Registry Office’. Strictly speaking it’s a ‘Register Office’, which is the term you’ll see on most official websites.

Are registry offices open for weddings?

For the latest government guidance on Covid related wedding restrictions click here.

What is a Civil Ceremony?

A civil ceremony is a legal, non-religious marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

They are conducted by registrars employed by the council, who also provide the legal certificate and keep the official record of the marriage or civil partnership. It’s a non-religious alternative to Church of England marriages for people of other faiths, or who are of no religion.

What about ‘legal recognition’?

As a result of the implementation of the Civil Partnerships (opposite sex couples) Regulations 2019, a civil partnership can be formed by two people of the opposite sex, as well as two people of the same sex.

This allows for all couples to obtain legal recognition for their relationship and be treated equally in a wide range of legal matters to those couples who enter into a marriage.

Registry office witnesses

Do you need witnesses at a registry office wedding? Absolutely! You’ll need two.

Who can be a witness at a registry office wedding? It’s pretty much anyone. You don’t even have to know them!

It’s usual though to choose witnesses that are really close to you - best friends and family spring to mind.

After all, it’s a special occasion!

There’s no legal age limit for your witnesses, although you’ll need to check with the registry office that you choose doesn’t have restrictions - it’s up to them, so do make sure to check with the registrar.

Your witnesses must understand the language of the ceremony and have the mental capacity to understand what's taking place.

Other than be there to support you and celebrate your marriage with you, the ‘legal bit’ is that your witnesses must witness your ceremony before signing at the time of marriage.

What is Giving Notice of marriage?

‘Giving notice’ is a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership.

You’ll need to give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony, and you must hold your ceremony within 12 months of giving notice.

You usually need to make an appointment to give notice at your local register office. You must have lived in that registration district for the past 7 days.

If you each live in different registration districts you’ll need to give notice separately, but you don't need to do this on the same day.

If you’re both British or EU citizens, you’ll do this in the Register Office for the council area you live in, even if that is not the one you are having your ceremony in.

If you or your partner is from outside the EU, EEA or from Switzerland:

You’ll need to give notice together at a designated register office, even if you live in different districts.

A ‘designated office’ is a Register Office that is authorised to take the notices of foreign nationals. The Register Office for the council area you live in may be a designated Register Office, but if it isn’t, you will need to find one that you can go to.

For more information on giving notice click here.

Registry office wedding prices

So how much does it cost to get married in a registry office?

The fee to give notice is usually £35 per person.

If either of you are from outside of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and:

  1. You need a visa to live in the UK

  2. You don’t have a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor visa or a family visa

Then the fee is £47 per person.

You also need to take account of the price of hiring your chosen room/registry office, which will vary according to your choice.

How much is a marriage certificate? Registry offices usually include this in their pricing.

The price for registry office weddings - unexpected costs

Here are some key costs to watch out for that you might not have considered:

  • Charges for Saturday appointments to give notice

  • Opting for a ceremony room i.e. not just a registry office room

  • Paying to get divorce documents from outside the UK approved

  • Making changes to your application

How long does a register office wedding take?

How long is a registry office wedding? Well, it varies from office to office, but as a rule of thumb think along the lines of 30 minutes in total.

You’ll be asked to arrive usually between 15 to 30 minutes beforehand depending on the registry office you’ve chosen.

You’ll both be interviewed separately before the ceremony (usually around 5 minutes each, but I’ve known it to take a little longer). The ceremony itself usually takes around 15 minutes.

If you’re planning to have some photos in other areas of the registry office (grand stairways for example) allow extra time for this, and check with your chosen registry office that they don’t mind (it’s very rare that they’ll object).

And… don’t forget to allow time after your ceremony for your ‘exit photos’, particularly your confetti shot if you plan to do this.

What happens at a registry office ceremony?

  1. The Superintendent Registrar will make a short statement about marriage.

  2. You both repeat a standard set of vows. These can’t be changed, but can be added to, as long as the additions are not religious.

  3. Rings aren’t required but can be exchanged if you’d like to.

  4. After the ceremony, the marriage register is signed by you both and the registrar. (before signing the register you’ll be asked to check that the information in the entry is correct - sorting out errors afterwards is long-winded and no fun)

  5. Your witnesses also sign at the time of the marriage.

  6. Celebrate!!

What do you need to get married in a registry office - the documents

You’ll need to bring proof of your name, age and nationality.

This would normally include a passport, birth certificate, proof of your home address (utility bill), and proof of any name changes if appropriate.

There can be a slight difference between registry offices so it’s worth a quick call to check their requirements.

If you or your partner is from outside the EU, EEA or from Switzerland then you’ll also need a passport sized photo of each of you, proof of you current immigration status, and a translation of any documents that aren’t in English.

Click here for more information on the documents required.

What to wear for a registry office wedding?

The big question - what do you wear to a registry office wedding?!

The great news is that there are no restrictions. If you’re dreaming of a white wedding dress, go for it! Or you could use the occasion to break away from traditions and bring your own unique style to your wedding!

Registry office wedding rules

Rules for registry office weddings can vary slightly depending on location, but the following rules are legally binding and apply to all register offices:

  • You must be at least 16 years old (where you’ll need parental permission, until you reach 18).

  • The person marrying the couple must be registered by the Registrar General. That is, they must be a superintendent registrar. Otherwise if someone else conducts the ceremony then the registrar must be available to sign the register.

  • You can’t have readings from religious texts.

  • No religious songs e.g. hymns are allowed (the ceremony may include readings, songs or music that contain reference to a god as long as they are in an 'essentially non-religious context' - check your preferences beforehand with your registrar for their advice and approval).

  • No food is allowed to be served/eaten before or during your ceremony.

As an aside - if you’d like to have your pet at your ceremony, or would like to have confetti (inside or outside) then you’ll need to check the specific rules of your chosen office.

Do I need to get married in a UK registry office before getting married abroad?

Different rules apply depending on the country that you’d like to get married in and it might be a requirement for you to get married in a UK registry office beforehand. It can depend on if you have residency or have lived in the country in question for a certain period of time.

Use the tool on this page to find out how to get the documents you’ll need.

How many guests can you have at a registry office wedding?

The number of guests will depend on your chosen register office, their available rooms, and their capacity, for your chosen date. You will need to take account of any restrictions as a result of Covid.

Registry office wedding vows - what are your options?

The best way you can make you ceremony special to you both is through readings, music and personal vows.

The person conducting your ceremony will usually provide you with some pre-written options for your vows to choose from (traditional, modern or simplified). You might decide to go with one of the options without any changes, but you can add so much to your vows to make them personal if you’d like to.

Make sure to run your wording by your registrar well before your ceremony.

Certain legal wording such as the following needs to be included:

“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (…) may not be joined in matrimony to (…).”

“I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (…) may not be joined in marriage to (…).”

“I call upon these persons, here present, to witness that I (…) do take thee (…) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband.”

“I (…), take you (…) to be my wedded wife/husband.”

Or, “I (…) take thee (…) to be my wedded wife/husband.”

Can you get married at any registry office?

Yes, you can get married at any register office - it doesn’t have to be the one closest to you.

You should still go to your local office to give notice if your chosen one isn’t within your district. They can then notify the office that you’re planning to marry at on your behalf.

After this, you’ll still need to get in touch with your chosen registry office to book an appointment for an interview, to have your identity checked and to fill in a few forms. This interview usually takes around 15 minutes.

Registry office finder

What if I’ve been married before?

OK, so this question rarely comes up, but it’s important that you know. If you’ve been in a civil partnership or been married before you’ll need to show a decree absolute or your former partner’s death certificate.

Summary

This page gives you the answers to all of the questions that I get asked by couples thinking about a registry office wedding.

To help you decide if it’s right for you I’ve also summarised some of the key benefits.

If you’re considering a registry office, the information here will help you to understand what’s involved and to make an informed choice between this and a ceremony at different type of venue.

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