Congratulations on your forthcoming ceremony. We have provided a rundown of what you can expect on the big day and what preparations you may need to make.
The information below will also help you to decide how would like to personalise your ceremony by completing our ceremony checklist.
Please also ensure you have read and understood the ceremony terms and conditions.
Register office ceremony
Our register offices ceremonies will be held in the approved ceremony rooms within our register offices at Guildford, Leatherhead and Weybridge.
Please note. It is not possible to hold a ceremony outdoors in the grounds of our register offices.
You must be interviewed by a registrar prior to your ceremony, as this is is a legal requirement. Your interview will take place in a different room from your ceremony.
If you wish to be interviewed together by the registrar, please be ready for your interview 20 minutes before your ceremony.
If you would like to be interviewed separately, the groom or partner number one, must be ready for the interview 20 minutes before the ceremony and the bride or partner number two, must be ready for the interview 10 minutes before the ceremony.
You must be ready to start your ceremony on time, it cannot be delayed by the late arrival of you or your guests. If you are late for your ceremony, you may not be able to proceed as planned, a reduction to content of your ceremony may be necessary or we may have to conduct your ceremony at the end of the day.
You can choose how to start your ceremony. You may wish to be escorted by a family member, friend or together as a couple.
You may also choose to be accompanied by bridesmaids or page boys.
You have a choice of three Surrey ceremonies which show the ceremony wording and a choice of the legal declaratory and contractual words that you are required to say to each other during your marriage or civil partnership. These ceremonies cannot be altered and we will not use scripts provided by anyone else.
On the day of your ceremony, you must provide two witnesses who are able to speak and understand English. These may be relatives or friends who will be required to sign the marriage or civil partnership schedule.
There is no legal limit on the number of guests, other than capacity limits of venues and their risk assessment for safety.
Register office ceremonies will be restricted to you the couple and the maximum number of guests that can be safely accommodated within the building and ceremony room.
The maximum number of guests includes babies, children, your two witnesses and an interpreter, if required.
- 48 guests at Artington House, Guildford (Buckingham option).
- 18 guests at Artington House, Guildford (Windsor option).
- 48 guests at Rylston, Weybridge (Buckingham option).
- 20 guests at Rylston, Weybridge (Oatlands option).
- 58 guests at the Mansion, Leatherhead (Buckingham option).
- 18 guests at the Mansion, Leatherhead (Windsor option).
Additional guests will not be permitted to enter any part of the register office building. Any attempt to exceed the number of guests will mean that your ceremony will not take place, as this will pose an increased risk to other users of the register office site.
A photographer or videographer will be allowed in the room to take photographs or record your ceremony. Further photographs may be taken in the garden after your ceremony.
If you would like one of your guests to film or live stream the ceremony, they may do so from their seat, using their own equipment.
Please note we cannot accept any responsibility for any damage or loss of any equipment whilst on any premises.
Biodegradable confetti can only be thrown outside the building.
The use of confetti cannons is not permitted.
If you do not speak or understand English, you must provide a suitable interpreter to attend with you. They will sign a declaration to confirm that they have translated all content for you and are satisfied that you understand the nature and purpose of the ceremony.
Any interpreter used will also be required to sign the marriage or civil partnership schedule as a witness.
At the end of the ceremony you will be invited to sign the marriage schedule or civil partnership schedule.
A marriage or civil partnership schedule document is required to complete a legal marriage or civil partnership and will be signed by you and your witnesses at the ceremony.
The marriage or civil partnership will then be registered in the electronic register by the Registration Service, on receipt of the marriage schedule following the ceremony.
Your marriage or civil partnership certificates ordered at the time of booking your ceremony, will then be issued and sent to you within 15 working days of receipt of your schedule after your ceremony.
Ceremony at a licensed venue
Civil marriages and civil partnerships ceremonies can take place in approved indoor rooms at licensed venues, and in outdoor areas if the venue offers this option.
In the event of wet or severe weather, licensed venues are required to provide a wet weather option, which can accommodate all guests, so that the ceremony can proceed on time, without any delays to move the ceremony indoors or to a covered, dry area.
Licensed venues are under no obligation to offer outdoor ceremonies and you should consult directly with your chosen venue to find out if this is an option they offer.
It will not be possible to hold an outdoor ceremony at a location that does not hold an approved premises licence.
Please note you can only have your ceremony outdoors during British summer time, which is the last Sunday in March until the last Saturday in October.
It is a legal requirement that you are interviewed by a registrar prior to your ceremony. Please be ready for your interview 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony.
The pre-ceremony interview will be held in an appropriate room. You can be interviewed separately if you choose. Your guests will be assembled in the ceremony room.
You must be ready to start your ceremony on time, it cannot be delayed by the late arrival of you or your guests. If you are late for your ceremony, it may not proceed as planned, a reduction to content may be necessary or we may have to conduct your ceremony at the end of the day.
You can choose how to start your ceremony, whether you wish to be escorted by a family member or friend or together as a couple.
You may also choose to be accompanied by bridesmaids or page boys.
You have a choice of three Surrey ceremonies which show the ceremony wording and a choice of the legal declaratory and contractual words that you are required to say to each other during your marriage or civil partnership. These ceremonies cannot be altered and we will not use scripts provided by anyone else.
On the day you must provide two witnesses who are able to speak and understand English. These may be relatives or friends who will be required to sign the marriage or civil partnership schedule.
There is no legal limit on guests other than capacity limits of venues and their risk assessment for safety. The number of guests will be determined by how many people the venue can safely accommodate, (including children and babies).
Please check with your venue about their maximum capacity.
A photographer or videographer will be allowed in the room to take photographs or record the event during the ceremony.
Please note we cannot accept any responsibility for any damage or loss of any equipment whilst on any premises.
If you do not speak or understand English, you must provide a suitable interpreter to attend with you. They will sign a declaration to confirm that they have translated all content for you and are satisfied that you understand the nature and purpose of the ceremony.
Any interpreter used will also be required to sign the marriage or civil partnership schedule as a witness.
At the end of the ceremony you will be invited to sign the marriage schedule or civil partnership schedule.
A marriage or civil partnership schedule document is required to complete a legal marriage or civil partnership and will be signed by you and your witnesses at the ceremony. The marriage or civil partnership will then be registered in the electronic register by the Registration Service, on receipt of the marriage schedule following the ceremony.
You will be issued with a commemorative certificate on the day, and your legal certificate and any others purchased at the time of booking, will be posted to you within 15 working days of your ceremony.
Step 7: Personalise your special day