The Registration Services offers civil ceremonies reflecting modern choices in today’s society. These ceremonies are all personally designed to your requirements and
can be held at either our own premises at Backhouse Hall, at any of our approved venues or, because it is not a legally binding ceremony, at another venue (subject to approval).
Please do not hesitate to contact to us if you have any further queries, or to discuss availability and fees.
Renewal of Vows Ceremonies
This is a special ceremony for couples who wish to renew their vows in a personal and unique way. You may have been married abroad and wish to declare your love for each other with your family and friends, or you may wish to mark a special anniversary e.g. 25 years together, or you may feel that it is the right time for you as a couple to re-affirm your love in a personal way before your friends and loved ones.
All Renewal of Vows Ceremonies are designed to be personalised and unique to you.
Naming Ceremonies
A naming ceremony is an occasion for parents, family and friends to pledge their love and commitment to a child. It is the opportunity to celebrate the birth of a new baby or to welcome a new child of any age into your family or a new relationship.
A naming ceremony allows supporting adults and grandparents to make promises to the child and its parents to offer support and guidance.
Each naming ceremony is designed according to the needs of the parents and can be personalised by including promises, readings and music and is non religious in content.
Commitment Ceremonies
A commitment ceremony is available to any couple who wish to make a public declaration of their love and commitment to each other in the presence of their friends and family.
Although it has no legal status it is often a means for a couple to still make a public declaration of their love and commitment to each other who may for whatever reason not wish to or be able to form a marriage or civil partnership.
Each ceremony is designed according to the needs of the partners and can be personalised by including promises to each other, readings and music.
Venues
A Civil Marriage or Civil Partnership can only take place in either Backhouse Hall (the Register Office premises) or at one of our approved venues.
However our other Celebratory Services can take place at the same venues or at any other venue, subject to the approval of the Superintendent Registrar e.g. a non licensed hotel, in the open air or even at your home.
About our venue.
Forming part of the Register Office premises, Backhouse Hall is located off the Market Place along Bull Wynd. The ceremony suite is in a grade listed premises and offers a choice of two ceremony rooms.
The Pease Suite is the larger of the two rooms and can accommodate up to 80 guests.
The Stephenson Suite is a smaller and more intimate ceremony room and can accommodate up to 40 guests.
Facilities also include a separate waiting room for the Bride and access for the guests to the Dolphin Centre Bar. A small garden area is located outside of the main entrance for photographs or alternatively the South Park is only a short distance away.