Your ceremony

Civil ceremonies at The Earlham Suite at George Meehan House, or at other approved ceremony venues, are conducted by the Superintendent Registrar. They are responsible for making sure that all information entered into the register is correct on the day. 

A marriage is formed by saying words and a civil partnership is formed by signing a schedule. Where words are said, the couple just need to listen and repeat the words. There is no need to have rings.

Find out how to book a registrar and a ceremony venue.

Schedules

Before a ceremony starts, all of your details will be checked again to ensure everything is correct before we start the ceremony or get you to sign the schedule document. A schedule is signed at the end of both a marriage and a civil partnership ceremony/signing.

Witnesses

You need to ask 2 people if they will witness your marriage or civil partnership. They must be old enough to understand the ceremony and their role in it, preferably over the age of 18 and have a good level of English. They just need to watch and listen to the ceremony and sign the schedule. 

Personalise your ceremony

You can personalise your ceremony. This includes:

• playing your own music when signing the schedule document 
• walking down the aisle
• readings, speeches or a short live performance such as a singer or musician
• saying words to one another – these words will be in addition to, and not in place of, the script used by the registrar

To personalise your ceremony, please contact us in plenty of time beforehand.