Choose a marriage or civil partnership ceremony

Civil marriage

Marriage ceremonies are available to both mixed-gender couples and same-sex couples.

You will need to say legal vows to solemnise your marriage, and civil marriages cannot include any religious content.  If you book a civil marriage in one of our registration service ceremony rooms or approved venues, our trained registrars will work with you to make sure your ceremony is personal and memorable. If you book a civil marriage in our statutory register office, our trained registrars will conduct a short ceremony just with you and 2 witnesses.

Gender recognition

During these legal vows, you will be referred to in accordance with the sex recorded on your legal birth certificate (i.e.' wife' if female, 'husband' if male). If you or your partner is a transgender person and holds a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), you will be referred to in accordance with your affirmed gender. However, if you do not hold a GRC, you will be referred to in accordance with your sex recorded at birth. There is currently no legal recognition of non-binary genders in marriage or civil partnership contexts. Please visit our Gender recognition page for further information.

Although we are legally required to use these gendered terms during a marriage ceremony, we will always use your chosen name and pronouns. If you or your partner is transgender and you have any further questions about this, contact us in advance of your ceremony, and we would be happy to help.

At the marriage ceremony

There will be two registrars at your wedding; one to conduct the ceremony and the other to register your marriage.

The only other requirement on the day is that you have two adult witnesses (over 16 years old) present, who must also be able to speak and understand English.

All ceremonies are held in English, so an interpreter must be present if either partner cannot speak or understand English.

Civil partnership

A civil partnership does not require a ceremony and is available to both mixed-gender couples and same-gender couples. A civil partnership is formed when the couple signs a civil partnership schedule in front of the registrar and two witnesses.

You can also choose to include a ceremony, and your civil partnership can take place at:

• an approved venue
• one of our registration service ceremony rooms
• our statutory register office

At the civil partnership ceremony

If you book our statutory register office, our trained registrar will conduct a short ceremony just with you and 2 witnesses.

The only other requirement on the day is that you have two adult witnesses (over 16 years old) present, who must also be able to speak and understand English.

Couples who form a civil partnership have comparable rights to married couples.

Personalise your ceremony

While a civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony has a fairly standard format, there are plenty of opportunities to personalise your ceremony with vows, promises, readings and music.

What happens on the day of your ceremony

Holding your ceremony in front of family and friends can be a nerve-racking event, but the registrars will be on hand to help you every step of the way. Find out what happens on the big day.

Interpreters

If you need an interpreter, discuss this with the registrar who takes your notice of marriage or civil partnership to ensure the legal requirements are met.