Wedding or civil partnership registration
About Bedfordshire
With its southern border only 30 miles from London, the County of Bedfordshire is the gateway to the Midlands and East Anglia, easily accessible via excellent road and rail links together with airports at Luton and Cranfield. Set in a rich rural landscape, the County is an attractive place to live, work and visit. There are many areas of outstanding natural beauty and attractions, which include stately homes and gardens, fine restaurants and hotels many of which are able to provide the perfect venue for your celebration.
Make your day special with a Bedfordshire wedding or Civil Partnership registration
Planning your day is a very important event, for both of you and for Bedfordshire Registration Service as we aim to make your day a very special, memorable and wonderful occasion.
It is hoped that this guide will give you the information you need to enable you to arrange your ceremony. Whatever you choose, whether it is an intimate ceremony with just yourselves and two witnesses, a small gathering or a grand celebration we hope this guide will answer all your questions but if you have any others we will always be pleased to provide further information and guidance.
The Bedfordshire Registration Service (Births, Marriages and Deaths)
Since 1837 there has been compulsory registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the United Kingdom. Each local authority, by law, must provide this facility as well as the provision of a place licensed for civil (non-religious) marriage and a Registrar available to register marriages at legally approved places of worship which do not hold their own register. The 1994 Marriage Act allows for the civil marriage ceremony to take place at locations approved by the Registration Service and this has given couples greater choice and flexibility in determining their wedding arrangements.
Civil Partnership registrations
The Civil Partnership Act came into force on 5th December 2005. This enables same sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Every local authority is required to provide a facility for civil partnership registration from this date.
Choosing a venue
You are able to choose between having your civil ceremony at any Register Office in England or Wales or any Approved Premises in any district in England and Wales. When you have chosen where you want to hold your ceremony you must check its availability, then confirm with the Superintendent Registrar that Registration Officers will be available on that day and at that time to perform the ceremony. Please note that it is essential that you agree the date and time with the Superintendent Registrar and the venue before making any other arrangements.
Civil weddings or partnership ceremonies can take place in specially licensed hotels, restaurants, banqueting suites, stately homes and other historic buildings.
When you make your booking with the venue, check how much they will charge as costs vary from venue to venue. A fee is also charged for the Registration Officers attendance.
Couples having a ceremony at a venue must give Notice of their intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the district, or districts where they live.
Once your marriage authority is issued you must deliver it immediately to the Register Office in the district where you are getting married (this is not applicable to civil partnership registrations).
Your ceremony abroad
If you wish to marry abroad according to the laws of that country you must ensure that you understand and follow all the regulations. You will almost certainly be required to provide certain documents and in some instances a certificate of no impediment which is available from the Register Office. Your travel agent will be able to assist you in the first instance.
Civil Partnerships can only take place abroad if the country where you wish to have your ceremony recognises this type of partnership.
Getting married in a church or other religious building
If you and your partner decide to be married in the Church of England you should contact the vicar. If he or she is able to marry you arrangements will be made for banns to be called on three Sundays before the day of your ceremony or for a common licence to be issued and there is generally no need to involve the Superintendent Registrar. If you are getting married in any other church or religious building you will need to give a Notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where you live.
If you are getting married in any religious building, apart from a church belonging to the Church of England, you must still give Notice as if you were getting married in a Registration Office in the district where you live. The law relating to getting married in a religious building has not changed. You can only marry in a church in a different district to where you both live if either of you usually worship in that building. You may also get married in another district if there is no building of your religion in the district where either of you lives. Our staff will be glad to give you help and advice on this matter.
A Registrar from the district covering the building must be present at the wedding unless the governing body of the religious building has chosen to appoint its own Authorised Person to register its marriages instead of the Registrar.
Legal preliminaries - giving notice of your intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership
Before you can marry in a civil ceremony or enter into a civil partnership in England, you both must give Notice of your intention to do this and must have resided in a Registration District for at least seven days. If you live in different Registration Districts then each of you will need to give Notice in your own area. Please note that Notice cannot be given by a friend or relative. A non-refundable fee is payable for the giving of each Notice.
The Notice is a legal document and is valid for one year. Fifteen clear days must pass after giving Notice before the marriage authority or civil partnership schedule can be issued and you are able to marry or enter into your civil partnership registration.
Please note that you cannot give Notice until the date, time and place of marriage have been arranged with the venue. You may give notice up to one year before the day of your marriage/civil partnership registration.
If English is not your first language, Registration Service staff will advise you whether an interpreter will need to be present when you give Notice and at the ceremony.
Documents you need to produce
When giving Notice of your intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership, you will both need to provide proof of your name, age, condition and nationality. Passports, Birth Certificates, National Identity cards and Aliens Registration Certificates are ideal ways of providing this information. Proof of address can be a Driving Licence, medical card, Council Tax bill etc.
If either of you have changed your name by Deed Poll or Change of Name Deed, this document must be provided.
If either of you have been married before or have entered into a civil partnership before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to show proof of your divorce or the death of your late partner.
If the divorce occurred in England or Wales, we will need to see a Decree Absolute bearing the Official Court Stamp. If the divorce took place in any other country, we will need to see the original document issued in that country and if the document is written in a foreign language, an English translation is required.
If your husband, wife or civil partner is deceased, you will need to produce the Death Certificate.
If you have been through any form of marriage ceremony or civil partnership abroad please contact the Registrar for further information.
If either of you is under 18 years of age, you will be required to produce proof that your parents or guardians consent to the marriage or civil partnership. If your parents are divorced we will need to see the court order that gives custody to one of them.
Checklist of Documents that may be Required
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Passport or Identity Card, Aliens Registration Certificate
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Birth Certificate
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Proof of Address
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Deed Poll, Change of Name Deed
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Decree Absolute(s)
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Death Certificate(s) of wife or husband
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Documents with regard to your marriage/civil partnership abroad
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Parent Consent Form(s) completed
The Registrar will always give you advice on any of these matters and explain what documents are acceptable.
The Notices of marriage or civil partnership must be publicly displayed in the Register Office for a minimum of fifteen clear days before the Authority allowing your marriage to proceed or Schedule allowing your civil partnership registration to proceed, may be issued.
A marriage Authority will be issued to each party to a marriage and if you are marrying outside the district where you gave Notice, you must collect your Authority and take it to the Superintendent Registrar or Minister of Religion who will be conducting your marriage.
Those forming a civil partnership will not be required to collect a Schedule as this will be issued by the Registrar conducting your civil partnership registration.
Organising your day
Here are some ideas for you to consider:
You may wish to include music in your ceremony. The Registrar will be able to provide you with details of music available. This can be played at appropriate moments during the ceremony such as while the guests are arriving or during the signing of the register/schedule.
For couples marrying, there are certain words prescribed by law (the contracting and declaratory words) which you must say. For couples wanting a civil partnership registration there is no requirement for you to make contracting or declaratory words but there is a choice of words that you may wish to say. The Registrar will talk to you about the choices available to you when you give notice and will be pleased to discuss with you any additional vows you may like to make to each other.
Bedfordshire County Council licensed premises and register office
Bedfordshire Registration Service provides licensed rooms at each of the offices in Ampthill, Bedford, Biggleswade, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. These are available for marriage ceremonies, civil partnership registrations and ceremonies and celebratory services.
Each room has a unique layout and the amount of car parking available does vary depending on which office you choose. In the interest of everyone's comfort, smoking is not allowed in any of our buildings and the throwing of confetti should be confined to outside areas.
For further information contact Bedfordshire Register Office on Bedford (01234) 290450 and staff will be pleased to help you.
Approved venues operated by Bedfordshire registration service
Bedford Register Office
Bedfordshire Register Office
Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford,
MK41 7PZ - Tel No (01234) 290450.
E-mail: lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|
Bedford is an ancient county town located on the River Great Ouse. The Bedford Room is located within the Bedfordshire Register Office on the outskirts of the town in a quiet residential area.
The ground floor Bedford Room is tastefully decorated in heather/navy blue offering seating for 100 guests. An induction loop system is available for visitors who wear hearing aids. There is plenty of car parking at weekends and gardens are available for photographs.
As well as the Bedford Room, The Bedfordshire Register Office also offers a small room suitable for couples who only require a basic ceremony at the statutory rate (maximum 6).
The Ampthill Room
The Court House, Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HZ Tel No (01234) 290450.
E-mail:
lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|
Ampthill is a small historic town with picturesque narrow streets lined with fine Georgian and Tudor architecture. The Ampthill Room is located in the former Magistrates' Court, a short distance from the town centre.
The room is bright and airy with comfortable seating for a maximum of 50 guests with plenty of parking and a grassed area for photographs.
As well as the Ampthill Room, this venue also offers a small room suitable for couples who only require a basic ceremony at the statutory rate (maximum 6).
The Biggleswade Room
The Biggleswade Room
The Limes, 142 London Road, Biggleswade,
SG18 8EL - Tel No (01234) 290450.
E-mail:
lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|
Situated near to the A1, Biggleswade was once an important coaching town with many historic pubs remaining. The offices are housed in modern premises a short distance from the town centre and offer the only purpose built room in the District. The Biggleswade Room is attractively decorated with carpet, curtains and seating in cream and Tuscan colours and accommodates 50 guests. There are unlimited parking facilities at weekends and gardens for photographs.
As well as the Biggleswade Room, this venue also offers a small room suitable for couples who only require a basic ceremony at the statutory rate (maximum 8).
The Dunstable Room
Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable,
LU6 1NF - Tel No (01234) 290450.
E-mail:
lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|
Dunstable is a historic market town with many old coaching inns. The Dunstable room is housed in a lovely 18th Century building on the A5 in the centre of town. The building itself retains many period features. The room can accommodate a maximum of 35 guests and is decorated in gold tones with flowers in yellow/gold colours. Grove House Gardens give a wonderful backdrop for wedding photographs.
As well as the Dunstable Room, this venue also offers a small room suitable for couples who only require a basic ceremony at the statutory rate (maximum 5).
The Leighton Room
Bossard House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard,
LU7 7DA - Tel No (01234) 290450.
E-mail:
lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|
Situated on the Grand Union Canal, Leighton Buzzard is a historic market town with an attractive old town centre.
The Leighton Room is situated in modern premises on the first floor of Bossard House in the centre of town. A lift is available to the first floor. The room is decorated in magnolia with heather seating for 40 guests. Parking on site is not available during the week and there are limited spaces available at weekends. Unfortunately we are unable to reserve spaces in the car park however there is a multi-storey car park within easy walking distance.
As well as the Leighton Room, this venue also offers a small room suitable for couples who only require a basic ceremony at the statutory rate (maximum 4).
Other approved premises
Other locations within the county have been approved as approved premises. A list of these can be obtained by telephoning the Bedfordshire Register office on (01234) 290450 or you can . Alternatively you can Email us at
lifeevents@bedscc.gov.uk|