Marriages & Partnerships

You will need to decide what legal declarations and vows you want to say to each other. (These words do not need to be spoken aloud during a civil partnership ceremony.) If you’re having a Classic ceremony you can also choose music and a reading. You can have additional readings or a unity element and personal vows if you’re having an Enhanced Ceremony. You should give us full details at least 4 weeks before the ceremony so we can personalise everything for you. If not, we will prepare a standard ceremony format. You can also include details of the entrance party, giving away or any other details or special requests on the form. 

You can find links to the digital Pre Ceremony Check Forms on the  Ceremony Forms & Guidance Downloads page.  Choose from either the Basic 2+2, Classic or Enhanced Marriages or Civil Partnerships forms as appropriate. There are separate guidance pages for each option to make sure you have the right information and vow wording. These Microsoft Forms should be compatible with most devices but we can send you a printed version if you can’t access online forms. If you have any queries, we’re happy to help.  

The Classic ceremony option is available at our Taunton, Yeovil, Weston & Frome locations with larger ceremony rooms and at all our licensed ceremony venues. It’s a full ceremony where you can invite as many friends and family as the venue allows. You can choose music for various parts of the ceremony, optional giving away, a range of our ring vows, plus one reading on top of the basic legal words. We have a great range of locations to suit all sizes and budgets. This format is based on the most commonly requested choices and is slightly cheaper than the Enhanced ceremony. These ceremonies normally take around 20-25 minutes. 

The Enhanced ceremony is similar to the Classic ceremony but offers more opportunity for you to create something unique. You can add your own personal vows instead of our pre-written ring vows, pick up to 3 readings or choose 2 readings and one of our romantic Unity ceremony additions: Sand, Hand Joining, Knot Tying or Memory Box ceremonies. This package reflects requests we often receive for more personalisation or celebrant-style extras. The ceremony lasts around 30 minutes. Read more about the options available on the Ceremony Enhancements page.

You will need to provide your name, age, occupation, marital status and address, and sign the schedule using your normal signature of your pre-marriage name. These are the names that will appear on your certificate as they were your legal identity at the point you formed this contract with each other. Formerly you would have been asked to provide your father’s name and occupation. Following the introduction of the Marriage Schedule System on 4th may 2021, you can now include details of up to 4 parents each.

Parents may include:

Mother(s), natural, adoptive, or step parent*
Father(s), natural, adoptive or step parent*
Parent(s), this could be a non-binary identifying parent or when legal parenthood has been transferred by a parental order
*A step-parent is a person who is, or who has been married to or in a civil partnership with the mother, father or parent

The inclusion (or not) of parent details on your registration is entirely your choice. Inform the registrar before your ceremony if you have a particular preference for the order in which parent details appear.

A Basic 2+2 ceremony will last roughly 15 minutes. A Classic ceremony is around 20-25 minutes while the Enhanced ceremony is about 30 minutes long. You will have a 45 minute time slot at a Register Office ceremony. This includes time to get your guests settled in as well as for the “signing” photographs afterwards. If you choose to get married at an approved venue you will have a booked time of 30 minutes for the ceremony itself. You can then be more flexible with your time after the ceremony for the rest of your celebrations. 

The vast majority of our ceremonies run on time, which is fantastic for everyone! Our team often have more than one ceremony to attend in a day so it’s essential that things start at the agreed time. Please let us know as soon as possible if you know you are going to run late for any reason. This might mean calling the venue’s wedding coordinator or a guest who will already be there so they can tell us.

We will always do our best to keep things to plan. In the worst case scenario we may have to shorten your ceremony to the essentials or even head to the next ceremony and come back to you later in the day. If it looks like either of those things may need to happen we will discuss options with you or someone from your party. Obviously we would really rather make your day run smoothly without any hiccups.

Don’t forget that you both need to be interviewed before the ceremony starts. If you have booked a 2pm ceremony, for example, you’ll still need to be ready to meet us for that chat around 15 minutes beforehand.

You do have to say the legal vows (the declaration and contracting words) during your marriage ceremony, but it’s also possible to add your own words too. Personal vows can be used instead of one of our ring vows if you’ve chosen the Enhanced ceremony package. If you’ve opted for the Classic ceremony then you can pick personal vows instead of having a reading. You don’t have to repeat any vows aloud for a civil partnership but have some optional pledges if you would like to. Let us have a copy of your personalised vows in advance so we can build them into the ceremony. They need to be non-religious in nature, and appropriate for solemnising a union. 

Feedback from former couples shows that a really popular option is to read personal vows to each other in private after the ceremony, or to include them during the speeches at the reception. It all depends on what you’re comfortable with.

You can’t hold a religious ceremony at a Register Office, and we only license Approved Premises for non-religious weddings and partnerships. By law, all our ceremonies must contain no religious content, including any readings and music. For Church of England marriages you should make an appointment at the church where you intend to marry. Church of England clergy are authorised registrars and can normally carry out all the necessary legalities. For other faiths and denominations, you should contact the minister to check whether they are authorised to solemnise marriages. You will need to pay for a Registrar to attend your ceremony to carry out the legal paperwork.

Yes – as long as it is not religious. You can have a string quartet or a brass band, if there’s space! If you’re using a recording, check with the venue to see what format they will need. Our Registration Office venues are now normally equipped with Bluetooth speakers for you to connect to remotely. You will need to download your music choices on to a device that can connect via Bluetooth. Have someone in your party in charge of starting and stopping the music at the appropriate moments. Our registrars will let them know when! At an approved venue you should supply your music choices directly to them in their preferred format if they need physical copies (eg CD or USB drive). You will need to provide your own copies of all music to be played. We ask for details on your ceremony form so we can check they are appropriate, but we don’t provide the music for you.

See our downloadable Guidance sheets for suggested use of music during the ceremony. It’s normal to have music for the entrance, signing and exit stages of the ceremony. Many couples like to have music playing while the guests are being seated. Please choose something that is a suitable length and is ok to use from the start, and can be stopped as the ceremony requires. It may seem like a romantic idea to wait until the dramatic climax of your favourite song to make your big entrance, but that wait can seem like eternity on the day, and leave guests wondering if you are getting cold feet!

You can have readings in the Classic & Enhanced Ceremonies. The main requirement is that they are not religious in nature and that they are not too long. There are a huge range of popular choices on the internet, or you may have a personal or family favourite. Please provide your choices to us in advance. We need to make sure they are appropriate and work them into our ceremony preparations. You can ask a friend or relative to do the reading, or our registrar will be happy to do this if you prefer. 

If you don’t know where to start you can choose from a selection of pre-approved and much loved pieces from our Readings Library

Since April 2022, all licensed venues are able to hold outdoor ceremonies if they have a suitable space. Have a chat with your venue to see what they can provide. It no longer needs to be under a fixed shelter like a gazebo, so it’s possible to have a ceremony on an open lawn or under trees. We are working with venues to find the best locations with accessible ceremony spots and there are some real beauties.

We strongly advise having an indoor alternative in case the weather isn’t all you hoped for on the day. Obviously you’ll want to head inside it its wet or windy, but high summer can also pose problems. Your guests will be sat outside for quite a while before you make it down the aisle. While there may be a shady spot for the vows, there may not be enough shelter for guests on a really hot afternoon. It could be 40 minutes or more of direct mid day sun, so it might be worth switching to a ceremony room in a heatwave. You will still have plenty of time to enjoy the outside space with your guests after the ceremony is over. Your event coordinator will be able to advise you on what will work best.

Browse our Venue Directory to see what is on offer – you can filter for an Outdoor Ceremonies option which covers everyone who permanent outdoor areas, but many more venues are now offering those options.

Our ceremonies are all required to be in English. If either of you cannot speak or understand English then you will need to bring an interpreter. You may also need a lip reader or interpreter if you have hearing problems.

You will need 2 witnesses to sign the marriage or partnership schedule. They might be close friends or family, but don’t need to be. We normally ask that they are at least 16 years old, and they must be capable of understanding the proceedings, witnessing and signing the register. You will need to bring your own witnesses as Register Office staff can’t perform this function.

We ask for details of your planned witnesses on your pre-ceremony check forms. If you need to bring different people with you on the day then that is fine. Just let the registrars know so they can update the details on the schedule and certificate.

You can start your ceremony however you choose. Walk in alone, with a family member or enter as a couple – whatever would suit you best. You can even head in with all your guests if you’d rather things were really casual. Historically, it’s traditional for brides to be given away by their father but this is not an essential part of the ceremony and is entirely up to you. You can be given away by a different family member, child or friend. You can opt to leave this part out if it doesn’t suit. It’s also not gender specific so we can include giving away for either or both partners if you like. Just let us know your preferences on the pre ceremony check form.

It is traditional to exchange wedding rings, but you don’t have to. You may wish to place these on a cushion or arrange for a ring bearer or best man to step forward at the appropriate moment. The wedding ring is normally placed on the third finger of the left hand, as this is traditionally thought to be connected to the heart. But again, you can discuss with your partner if you’d prefer to have it placed on another finger. If you wish to exchange a different token, you may – some other cultures exchange necklaces or other jewellery, but you could give each other books, small tokens or other gifts that have a special meaning to you both. If you’d rather skip this part, that’s absolutely fine. Just let us know on your pre-ceremony check form.

Absolutely!  This is your special day and we want you to be able to capture it. We do ask that photography doesn’t detract from the ceremony. You might consider just having a professional photographer take shots during the ceremony so your friends and family can relax and enjoy the proceedings. Let your guests know if you’d prefer them not to take their own pictures. Our registrars will normally check if you would like to have pictures taken of the signing of the schedule (formerly the register). They will make time for you to pose for this before you leave the ceremony.

We’re afraid not. The rooms used for these ceremonies are small offices and are only licensed for Basic Ceremonies. Only you, your partner and your witnesses will be able to attend. The exception to this is if you have a baby who will be held or be in a pram during the ceremony. If you want to bring along additional family members, children or friends – even if it’s only a couple of extra people – you will need to book one of our larger ceremony rooms. These are still very affordable options and give you more flexibility in terms of who you invite. It’s up to you whether you take advantage of the full ceremony options available with these rooms or keep the ceremony short and sweet.

This is something you’ll need to delegate, traditionally a job for the best man or a wedding coordinator. It’s up to you whether you seat your guests according to “bride” or “groom”, or let people choose their own spot. Whoever you put in charge will need to make sure there’s enough seating at the front reserved for key family members to sit during the ceremony and schedule signing. This often includes father of the bride, bridesmaids and groomsmen.

There won’t be an opportunity to decorate the room to a personal theme in a Register Office or our Abbey Manor and Frome venues as we often hold several ceremonies a day. These rooms are dressed for ceremonies, so you just need to bring yourselves!

However, if you have chosen to hold your event at an approved venue, you can arrange for flowers and themed decorations with their wedding coordinator. Browse our Wedding Supplier Directory for local professionals who can work with you to create your dream theme.

We’ve introduced a biodegradable confetti only policy at our Registration Offices. Paper, petals and bubbles only please! Throwing rice is an old tradition to bless the couple with fertility and good fortune but is not practical. We’d appreciate guests avoiding this as it tends to turn to turn our carpets into rice pudding and attracts unwanted wildlife. The only exception is at Abbey Manor, who don’t allow confetti of any sort. On the plus side, that is one less thing to have to organise. Just don’t forget to remind your guests.

Our approved ceremony venues each have their own policy, so do check with them and let your guests know. Popular environmentally friendly choices include dried lavender, rose petals or DIY confetti made from hole punched leaves. Beautiful!

Dogs can make fantastic ring bearers, and many people want to share their day with their favourite four legged friends. Depending on the venue, it’s possible to make your pooch a part of the event. Check with your venue to see what they can accommodate. We’ve had matching his & hers llamas, alpacas, horses and even ring-bearing owls. Do make sure that your animal will be comfortable and catered for throughout the event. Dog sitting services are a great way to have your pet be part of the main event and then looked after while you party.

Unfortunately, we can only allow guide dogs or other trained service animals (not unlicensed support animals) at register office venues. This includes Abbey Manor, Frome Town Hall, the Tudor Hall & Vivary Room at Taunton Register Office and Weston Town Hall.

Certificates are no longer written out at the end of the ceremony so you don’t have to worry about losing it at the reception! The marriage schedule will be taken away by the registrars and entered on to the central digital record system. You will normally receive your certificate in the post around 5-10 days later. If you would like extra copies, do let us know in advance. You can pay for these when you pay your ceremony fees. Otherwise you may order more copies later online once the details have been recorded.

If you are having a church wedding with no registrar present you will need to arrange with your vicar about who will submit the marriage document. It needs to be sent to the local register office to be processed. You will need to order and pay for your certificate once this has been completed.

Please be aware that you will not have a certificate straight away. You may be planning a honeymoon that requires proof of marriage for a discount or because your destination requires you to be legally wed to stay together. Please check what will be acceptable documentation. You will be able to take a picture of the marriage schedule which may be acceptable in some cases, but it is not a legal document.

We don’t provide an order of service card. We find that these are not essential for civil ceremonies where you don’t need to provide hymn words or shared prayers. You are welcome to provide your own if you would like. We have a suggested order of service in our pre ceremony guidance pack. You can let us know if you would like things done in a different order when you complete your pre ceremony check form. Our registrars will introduce themselves and explain what is happening at each step, direct guests to stand or sit as necessary. They’ll introducing readings and coordinate when music needs to be played.

Read our detailed terms & conditions here: Ceremony Terms & Conditions