Wedding Planning: Venues and Registrars
Well it seems that we have a date – well technically at least. We’ve got a date booked in with the Registrar for next year – now all we need to do is sort out the venue properly (got the date also pencilled in there, just need to discuss prices in more detail).
Setting the Date
Ringing dates in red is SO 2009
Setting the date is important – everything hinges around it; there’s also no point penning in a date as your location until you know there is someone available to marry you! Now I was totally in the dark on this one and what you have to do, so I thought it would be useful to go through the steps so you guys out there know for your own weddings! Remember this is based on my experience with an English Register Office – other areas of the UK may vary.
Step by Step
- Find out which is the correct registry office to go to. This can be via your local council, or if you have chosen a licensed venue, they should know the office.
- You may need to contact more than one registry office:
* If you both live in the same district as the venue, then you contact your district’s office.
* If you live in different districts and are getting married in a district one of you live in, you need to contact both.
* If you live in different districts and are getting married in separate district, you need to contact all three! - Hint: When in doubt start at the office related to the venue, they will often point you in the right direction for any others.
- Hint: Look up the website for the office/s once you know it – most information will be there, although you may need to dig a bit as their sites are often not designed very well (nice to see tax money doing so well…)
- Check your dates – you can only book a civil ceremony up to a year in advance (some offices may take provisional bookings up to two years). There is also a minimum period of 15 days – no Las Vegas quickies for us!
- Book your Day and Time – Registrars have certain time slots – there is often more availability if you are doing at the Registry Office, so if you are at a private venue be prepared for your “ideal” time to be taken, so you can make a rational decision whether you have to have that time or have to have that date (likely your fiancée will be directing this bit!) – Some offices will need a non-refundable deposit for this, so make sure you are pretty certain. They can often change the date/time but will often charge you for the privilege!
- Within a certain time limit (for us it’s 2 months) you have to give your official notice to marry to the office. There is a charge per person to do this, and you have to meet certain conditions as well as supply applicable proof (e.g. passport & utility bill)
* It must obey to the timings noted above in point 5.
* Each partner must have resided in the district in which they are giving notice for at least seven nights
* If the partners live in different districts, notice must be given within seven days of each other
* Proof of identification (Passport or Birth Certificate)
* Proof that you are eligible to marry (should you have been married before) - The full balance of the Registrar’s fees are payable nearer the day, but you can pay in advance. Be very aware that the fees will vary from district to district. Venue marriages will be about 4 times as expensive as at the Registry Office, and the fees increase dramatically for “peak” days – especially so for Bank Holidays.
- Hint: Make sure you read and understand the cancellation policy of the district before you part with your cash.
The Aftermath
After you have got everything signed, sealed and delivered, you can then relax a bit and get down to the enjoyable bit – planning the ceremony. The Registry Office will be able to advise and direct you on options. Different county districts may have certain likes and dislikes as to the particulars, but all will be open to collaboration and discussion. Just remember that civil marriage ceremonies cannot make reference to anything religious, so any special readings or music will need to be vetted first.
Personally – I just want the damn venue sorted so I can get to this bit!!
STD
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