On Your Wedding Day

If you are marrying in a register office or approved premises, the Registrar will see you both in private just before the ceremony. This is to check the details to be entered in the marriage register and to collect the fee. You will each be asked for the following information:-

• Your full name, age, occupation and the address of your residence on the day of your marriage.
• The full name and occupation of your father,and whether he is retired or deceased.

It is your responsibility to provide two witnesses to the marriage, who are usually,friends or relatives. They must be able to understand what is taking place and be able to give evidence of what they ave seen and heard in the unlikely event that this should become necessary.

In order not to spoil the solemnity of the occasion, photography will not be permitted during the ceremony. Time allowing, there will be an opportunity for your guests to photograph you afterwards, with the register. One video camera only may be used during a civil marriage ceremony, but no additional lighting will be allowed and the camera must not be connected to the main power supply. A recent change to the law allows you some choice in the formal words during the ceremony. You must agree the form of words to be used together with any readings or music that are to be included with the Superintendent Registrar before the day of the wedding.

Once the ceremony is over,the Registrar will ask you to check that your details have been correctly recorded in the Marriage Register. Please check them carefully, as there can be problems if errors have to be corrected later. You will both then be asked to sign the register. The bride should sign the name she was known by immediately before the ceremony. Your two witnesses will then be asked to sign.

Should you need to cancel your marriage or wish to alter the date and time of the wedding, you will need to contact the register office in person or in writing. No alteration or cancellation can be made by telephone.