Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 6
1. As soon as a couple have made provisional arrangements for their marriage on approved premises they should be advised that the ceremony coordinator for the venue will contact the Superintendent Registrar for the district in which the premises are situated at The Register Office, Priory Hall, Priory Park, Dudley, DY1 4UE* to request attendance of the Registration staff at the venue for the date and time required by the couple. Confirmation of the Registrars’ attendance will be sent to the venue within 7 working days by email. The ceremony coordinator for Dudley Registration District will contact the couple to confirm the provisional arrangements and to give advice on the legal procedures (known as giving notice) required before the marriage can take place.
a) *A fully completed provisional marriage/civil partnership booking form should be sent to registration.celeb@dudley.gov.uk to request the Registrars’ attendance by the ceremony coordinator at the approved premises.
2. Without the presence of the Registration staff there can be no marriage and any arrangements for the use of the premises depend entirely on their availability. It is, therefore, essential that the couple and the venue make an advance booking with this Superintendent Registrar for their attendance at their proposed marriage as soon as a booking can be accepted. (Up to twelve months in advance of the date of the ceremony.) A fee for this attendance will be payable before the ceremony.
3. The couple will also have to give a notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar(s) of the registration district(s) in which they live. This notice must be given in person by each of the couple and is valid for twelve months. The couple should, therefore, attend the register office(s) where they live as soon as notice can be given. There is a fifteen-day waiting period after notice has been given before the marriage can take place.
4. If either of the couple is subject to immigration control, there will be further procedures to take place before notice of marriage can be given. The local Superintendent Registrar can advise further on these procedures.
5. The couple should be warned that any arrangements made for a marriage to take place on the approved premises are dependent on:
a) the attendance of the Registration staff from the registration district in which the premises are situated; and,
b) the issue of the authorities for marriage by the Superintendent Registrar(s) to whom notice of marriage was given.
6. When notice is given in a different registration district from the one where the marriage is taking place, the couple will have to collect the Superintendent Registrar’s certificate for marriage (authorities) before the ceremony and ensure that it is delivered to the registrar who is to attend the ceremony.
7. The couple should be advised that only a civil, non-religious ceremony can be permitted by the Superintendent Registrar. The content of the ceremony must be agreed in advance with the Superintendent Registrar who will be attending the ceremony.
8. Any rights of copyright for music, readings etc permitted at the ceremony are a matter for the couple and the holder of the approval.
9. When it is confirmed that the parties have both given their legal notices of marriage, the Superintendent Registrar will send a confirmation letter and information pack to the couple.
10. The parties must be advised of any limit to the number of guests attending their marriage, determined by the size of the ceremony room.
11. The parties must be advised that punctuality on the day of the ceremony is essential. It must be pointed out that the Registration Staff may be booked to attend other ceremonies in different buildings. Late arrival may result in a shortened ceremony, no photographs following the signing of the register or the ceremony being postponed to a later time.
12. On the day of the ceremony the Registration Staff will arrive 30 minutes before the appointed ceremony time. The Registrar will meet with the groom 20 minutes before the ceremony time in the interview room provided by the venue, the bride will be seen by the Registrar 10 minutes before the ceremony time in the interview room. If the couple prefer they can been seen together 15 minutes before the ceremony time.
Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 1
Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 2
Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 3
Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 4
Approved Premises for Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships - part 5
Part 6 - Guidance for those who wish to Register a Civil Partnership on Approved Premises