Arranging the legal bits
Arranging your legal marriage ceremony
Under the law currently, Wedding Celebrants in England and Wales are not able to legally marry couples. All my couples do their “legal bits" with registrars before or after their wedding day or later in the afternoon on their wedding day, after their personal celebrant-led ceremony (whilst guests are having drinks before the meal).
There are three main options couples choose depending on their budget:
The cheapest option is to have a “statutory marriage ceremony” (£57). This often called the “two-plus-two”. For £46, all councils in England must provide a 10 minute legal marriage ceremony for the couple and just two witnesses. The legal marriage certificate is £11 and exactly the same as that issued if you had paid £1000 for registrars to do the same legal marriage ceremony at your licensed venue. It is mid-week and in a council office. Some councils offer this weekly or twice weekly, the worst councils only offer it monthly or “upon request”. Whilst you have to “give notice” at your local council, you can have your statutory marriage ceremony at any council in England. To get your legal marriage ceremony nearest to your wedding day, it is often good check local council areas. A list of contact details, locations and frequencies of the “statutory marriage ceremony” at a range of councils in the North and South of England is included in the downloadable document.
The middle cost option is to have a registry office ceremony in a small council function room (£150-£300) or a small church marriage service. Most councils offer a range of marriage ceremony rooms that means you have more flexibility on date and you can invite immediate family and/or friends.
The most expensive option is to have registrars to attend to your venue in the late afternoon (£750-£1,000). If budget is not an issue is to have registrars attend your wedding venue on your wedding day and conduct the 10 minute legal bit in the afternoon after your personal celebrant-led ceremony, whilst your guests are enjoying drinks before the meal. Registrars normally have more capacity to attend your venue during peak-wedding season after 3pm. The cost however will range from £750-£1,000, depending on the council where your venue is located.
Complete the form below to download for FREE a guide on how to book legal marriage ceremony so you can plan your perfect wedding day, your way.