- Choose a date, venue and celebrant and confirm arrangements with them.
- Choose two witnesses (over 16 years old)
- Get in touch with the nearest registrar to your venue (not your home) and tell them where you are getting married (to make sure they are the nearest) and ask them for the forms.
- Fill in the forms and send them back to the registrar's office no earlier than 3 months and no later than 6 weeks before the wedding. Sometimes you can put your forms in later than this but this is the exception not the rule.You will also have to supply the registrar with your birth certificates.
- One week before the wedding one of you picks up the Marriage Schedule (the piece of paper you, the witnesses and your celebrant signs on the day) and one of you must do this in person.
- On the day of the wedding the most important thing to remember is to bring the Marriage Schedule with you (some people forget!).
- This must be signed in permanent black ink using a fountain pen (don't worry - I bring this with me).
- The Marriage Schedule must be returned to the registrar within three working days and can be taken back by anyone. You will then be sent your wedding certificate.
- If you need a letter to say you are married (for your honeymoon freebies, for example) I am happy to write that for you.
- The Venue: the Registrar General says the venue must be 'safe and dignified'. I have conducted weddings in kitchens, gardens, castles, hotels, clubs......The Registrars are always very helpful and will go out of their way to assist you if you are having difficulty getting hold of paperwork or you are working to a tighter deadline. If you have lost your birth certificate and are worried about getting another one, if your venue cancels your booking at the last minute, if you are waiting for divorce papers to come through before you can put your forms into them, or any other problems with the paperwork - tell them as soon as possible.
If you have any thoughts or questions, don't hesitate to contact Gerrie by phone or email.
