It’s easy to get caught up in the whirl of planning a wedding, but before you get distracted thinking about dresses, flowers, cakes, and honeymoons, don’t forget the one thing you really need to make your ceremony legal: a wedding registrar.
This is quite simple if you are planning to marry in a church or have a civil ceremony at a register office, as you simply either book the date with the minister or registrar in charge. If you plan to tie the knot anywhere else, you must book an official registrar. This can be trickier than you’d expect, so it’s best to do it before committing to definite dates and locations for other aspects of your big day or you risk being disappointed.
To be safe, it’s worth booking a few different provisional dates with your wedding venue.
Choose a licensed place
Although people do marry in various locations in the UK, they must be licensed for the occasion. If, for example, the plan is to go for a hotel wedding venue in Gloucestershire, it’s better to book a trustworthy place such as https://www.hatton-court.co.uk/gloucester-cotswolds-weddings to make sure the legal requirements are met.
Finding a registrar
Appropriate contact details for the registrars in every area should be listed on the official local authority registry website. Don’t forget that the registrar must be from the same district as your wedding venue location, regardless of where you both actually live. Some will not take definite bookings more than one year in advance, so bear this in mind when planning.
In most cases, applicants can complete an online form requesting a registrar for a specific date. Once confirmed, a deposit toward the fee is required and a contract must be signed. Registrars are able to travel to approved (licensed) venues.
Meeting the registrar
The law insists couple planning to marry must meet the registrar at some point up to 12 months before the ceremony to prove both their identity and their right to marry in the UK. You may also be asked to complete a form outlining your wishes for the ceremony so everyone is on the same page.
The final step to secure your wedding registrar involves paying the balance owed, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the preparations for the big day.