Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. Two of the most important decisions you will need to make are where you will have your marriage ceremony and what type of ceremony you wish to have.
A marriage ceremony may be civil or religious. A civil ceremony can take place in a Register Office or other building licensed for marriage ceremonies within England and Wales. The ceremony is conducted by a superintendent registrar and a registrar and is entirely non-religious. The ceremony can be tailored to include your choice of readings, poems or music.
Southampton Registration Services can book a provisional date for your civil wedding if it is to take place within Southampton City, guide you through the legal requirements and our professional staff will take you through your special day.
A religious ceremony is held in a church, chapel or other religious building. The marriage ceremony is conducted by the minister in accordance to the rites and ceremonies of that particular religion. If you wish to be married in a Church of England you will need to speak to the vicar of the church. There is usually no need to involve your local register office. If you wish to have a religious ceremony in a church other than a Church of England, you should first arrange to speak with the person in charge of marriages at the building, then you will need to give formal notice as detailed in legal preliminaries and documents required to the superintendent registrar at your local register office. Please note that in addition, one of you will be normally be required to live in the same district as the church of religious building. You will also need to check with the church or religious building whether a registrar will be required to attend the ceremony to register the marriage.
If you would like to get married abroad, different rules apply. Advice and information, including obtaining a Certificate of No Impediment should be sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Southampton City Council
