Your ceremony

The legal requirements for a Civil Ceremony are minimal and allow you to personalise your ceremony in terms of vows, readings, music, dedicating candles, making promises to children and lots more.

You will be provided with information which will guide you through the order of the ceremony, the legal requirements and also some suggestions for ways to make the ceremony more personal and meaningful.

Before your ceremony you will be asked to complete this questionnaire so that the registrar performing the ceremony has all of the necessary information. You will also be provided with information which will clarify how the ceremony works including timescales for the day.

If you would like to see the register office marriage facilities before you book it then you can make an appointment with us on 01325 406 400 for a viewing. If you will be giving notice of marriage with us as a Darlington resident we will include the viewing as part of your notice of marriage appointment.

The purpose of a Civil Ceremony is to provide an alternative to a religious ceremony and therefore a Civil Ceremony cannot include any words, music, readings or rituals which are intentionally or obviously religious. For example, readings from the bible, or hymns.

We do try to be as flexible as possible to accommodate requests to make your ceremony personal and many pieces of music and readings are allowed which you might not think are.

If you have any questions or concerns about this you should contact us for further advice.

All ceremony fees must be paid before the day of the wedding.

Complete your wedding ceremony choices form.

 

Documents to help plan your ceremony in Darlington:

Getting married at the register office [pdf document]

Getting married at an approved venue [pdf document]

Guide to getting married in Darlington [pdf document]

Readings [pdf document]