If you are choosing to get married at your local register office. You should go there and the officers will be able to advise you on civil wedding procedure and the choices available to you.

Some register offices provide an additional room to the statutory marriage, where you may also marry outside normal working hours including Bank Holidays, Saturday and Sundays.

Couples who wish to marry in a register office must both give notice in person to their local superintendent registrar and make a provisional booking with the register office of their choice.

It is normal to give eight weeks notice. However, you can give a minimum of 14 days notice. and no more than 12 months in advance.

The document requires

• evidence of name and address
• Birth certificate

• if one partner has been married before or in a civil partnership, documentary evidence that the marriage or civil partnership has ended, for example, a death certificate or decree absolute. Uncertified photocopies are not accepted. A certified copy of a decree absolute may be obtained from the court which decided the divorce. This can take about a week

• evidence of nationality

You need to show your evidence of name, age, marital status and nationality before issuing a certificate of common notice.

A variety of documents can be used as evidence of the information required, but a passport, travel document or birth certificate is usually sufficient. You should contact the register office where you're getting married for more specific advice on what they will accept.

People from overseas may be asked to show their passports. There is no legal requirement to show a passport before getting married and instead, they can produce a birth certificate (accompanied by a certified translation if necessary), an affidavit or other personal identity document

Witnesses

The ceremony itself take time about 30-45 minutes. You will need to select two witnesses to be present at your marriage. These may be friends or relatives and ideally should be 16 years of age or over.

Fees

A fee is payable on the day of the marriage and should be placed in the envelop provided. Please ensure you have the exact money. The fee includes one marriage certificate which will be given to you on the day. Further certificates can be obtained from the Register Offices at any stage in the future.

The fee will be taken when the Bride and Groom are taken into the marriage room prior to the ceremony to check the correct details for entry into the marriage register. This interviews will be conducted in private

The fee of giving notice is £30 and there is also a charge of £34 for registrar's fees. The minimum fee for a wedding is £94.

The Ceremony

Arrival - You and your guests should arrive 20 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Ceremony & Words  -The Superintendent Registrar or Registrar in Northern Ireland will make a short statement about marriage; you can ask the registrar beforehand to indicate what form of words will be used. It is not possible to use religious words in the civil ceremony, although non-religious words, for example, poetry, as well as music and other performances may be added.

The ceremony will begin with a welcome and introduction by the Superintendent. Both the Bride and Groom will be required to make declarations to say they are free to marry and will contract their vows...These may not be changed, but may be added to, as long as the additions are not religious. Rings are not required but can be exchanged if the couple wishes to...You can check wedding vows samples click here.

Music - Music will be played whilst the marriage register is being signed.

Entrance - The bride may wish to make an entrance into the marriage room once the guests are seated. Some Register Offices have the options available on the choices form.

Photographs & Video

Please check at your local if there allowed in the marriage room during the ceremony.