FAQs - DO I HAVE TO HAVE A CEREMONY - WHEN I GET MY MARRIAGE LICENCE?

This week I thought I would share you with you some of the questions we get frequently asked - I hope that you will find them both interesting and informative. If you have any questions of your own - please do not hesitate to get in touch (no obligation) - we are always happy to help.

QUESTION 1.

I HAVE BOOKED MY FULLY PERSONALISED CEREMONY WITH YOU - AT A VENUE OF MY CHOICE - DO I HAVE TO ANOTHER CEREMONY WHEN I GET MY MARRIAGE LICENCE ?

The short answer is NO - you do have to attend for an appointment to give your Notice [intention to marry] and follow all the legal requirements of attendance at the Registrar Generals Appointed Office (the information of the location of this will be on your local Councils website AND it will have a .gov.uk address) - and you will need to attend at that approved premises to obtain your marriage licence, however there is no need to have your FULL CEREMONIAL service at this time. After you have given your Notice - there is a specified time frame to attend to get your Marriage Licence, at this point there will be a couple of legal declarations and statements that you have to make in the presence of appointed GRO officers, along with two witness to your signature, you DO NOT have to exchange rings or even dress in your wedding attire.

You can also opt NOT to have this at a premium time/day of the week or in their CEREMONY ROOM, so check out your local authority webpages for the difference in the rates for this. Particularly as you are intending to have a Celebrant Led Ceremony of YOUR CHOICE - then why pay twice!!! - The majority of couples opt for the weekday appointments to save some much needed cash in the run up to having a WEDDING DAY that THEY WANT and WHERE THEY WANT ….SAYING WHAT THEY WANT, without restrictions. (Thank you to A & S for this question this week)