Where do you want to get married?
Under current law in England you have the option to have a civil ceremony at any Register Office or Approved Premise provided the legal requirements are met, and you don't even have to live in the area in which you want to marry.
Northamptonshire Register Offices have marriage rooms which have all been decorated to the highest standard. These, and the wide variety of Approved Premises licensed as Venues in Northamptonshire, should ensure that there is something which appeals for the type of wedding you have in mind, and at a price you can afford.
The law does not allow for a civil marriage to take place in a private house, in open air, a tent or marquee, or in any other movable structure, such as a boat or hot air balloon. Neither can a civil marriage take place in any building which has a past or current connection with any religion.
Recent publicity has highlighted that there will be a more flexible approach to marriage locations and times in the future. Unfortunately this can only happen after the law is changed, and that is probably several years away. In the meantime the above restrictions apply.
If you plan to marry in a Church or Chapel slightly different laws apply.
What happens next?
Once you have decided on some possible dates and times you need to contact the Register Office in whose district the civil marriage will take place, or the Minister of the Church or Chapel, to see what availability they have.
It may be possible for you to make a provisional booking up to a year in advance.
The next stage is to make an appointment with your local Register Office to give a notice of marriage, for which various residential qualifications and time scales apply.
To give a Notice of Marriage you have to be legally free to do so i.e. in a case of marriage ending in divorce a Decree Absolute must have been granted.
If you give the Notice in the same district that your marriage will take place, then at the same appointment you will also have the opportunity to discuss the options available for your ceremony.
Where you give Notice in a different district then you should make an appointment to discuss your ceremony with the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the marriage will take place beforehand and pay the appropriate fee.
And after all that?
Turn up on the day, have fun and enjoy yourselves!
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