Your wedding day
Your ceremony will last up to 60 minutes including 30 minutes for the pre-ceremony interview.
You will be greeted by the ceremony officer who can answer any last-minute questions that you may have.
Pre-ceremony interview
Your pre-ceremony interview is scheduled 30 minutes before your ceremony start time and you must ensure your on time.
The interview will include a brief meeting to ensure that all the information given at your notice of marriage appointment is still correct, any changes will be amended with your confirmation. Your certificate will be sent in the post and an address for posting will be agreed upon at the time.
Guests arrival
You and your guests must be on time as the ceremony officer will have other ceremonies to attend on the same day. Please consider this when advising guests of their arrival time. See your ceremony confirmation email for the suggested arrival time.
The ceremony
The ceremony will begin with the ceremony officer welcoming everyone and providing an introduction. After that, the ceremony will proceed as follows:
You will be asked: Are you [full name] free lawfully to marry [full name of partner]?
The choice of words below are spoken aloud during in the presence of witnesses by both partners as a declaration that they are free to marry.
(a) Traditional: “I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I [full name] may not be joined in matrimony to [full name of partner]”
(b) Modern: “I declare that I know of no legal reason why I [full name] may not be joined in marriage to [full name of partner]”
(c) Simplified: “(If the answer to my question is yes please reply I am).
For ceremonies, the couple can have a first reading. Your guests can take the lead with readings if you wish.
The choice of words below are spoken aloud during the ceremony in the presence of witnesses by both partners to signify they are entering into a contract of marriage.
(a) Traditional: “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I [full name] do take thee [full name of partner] to be my lawful wedded husband/wife”
(b) Modern: “I [full name] take you [full name of partner] to be my wedded husband or wife”
(c) Simplified: “I [full name] take thee [full name of partner] to be my wedded husband or wife”.
The exchange of rings.
For ceremonies, the couple can have an additional reading and exchange additional promises. Your guests can take the lead with readings if you wish.
The formal signing of the schedule will take place after you have been declared husband and wife, husband and husband or wife and wife.
- The law requires that you have 2 witnesses at your marriage or civil partnership (ceremonies only)
- They can be relatives or friends and must be able to speak and understand English - children and young people can sign the schedule as additional witnesses
- All witnesses must be able to understand what is taking place and testify to what they have witnessed
Marriage certificate
Your certificate will be sent in the post and an address for posting will be agreed in your pre-ceremony interview.
Last updated 19 March 2025