Weddings

Whether you choose to get married at one of our register offices, our approved venues or elsewhere, we're here to help create the perfect wedding ceremony for you.

• Where and when you can get married
• How much our ceremonies cost
• Booking your ceremony
• Giving notice of marriage
• Religious weddings
• Weddings abroad
• How to plan your ceremony
• Your day has arrived
• Contact details

Where and when you can get married

You can get married in a ceremony room at one of our 8 register offices or any of our approved venues in Hertfordshire.

We also offer celebratory marriage ceremonies if your ideal location isn't approved for legal ceremonies. Before the ceremony can take place you must be legally married.

There are no restrictions on the time of day you can get married so we can offer times later in the day at our approved venues.

How much our ceremonies cost

• A small statutory register office ceremony for the couple and up to 2 guests is available in the Watford Register Office on Mondays, Hatfield Register Office on Tuesdays, Stevenage Register Office and Hemel Hempstead Register Office on Wednesdays. The statutory fee for this ceremony is £46.
• The fee for a marriage certificate is £11.

• Anytime ceremonies can take place at approved venues between 6pm and 9am.

• For an Anywhere Ceremony you must be legally married, or have arrangements to have a legal marriage before the date proposed for the Anywhere Ceremony.
• The fee for the legal ceremony will be £46 and can take place at any Hertfordshire Register Office.

Booking your ceremony

Once you've decided where you want to get married, contact us to book the date, time and place. If you've chosen an approved venue, check dates or provisionally book with them first before contacting us to book the Registrar.

We'll send you a provisional booking letter advising when you must give notice of marriage (your legal notice of intention).

Giving notice of marriage

Before you can register your marriage, you must both give your legal notice of intention.

You'll need to give notice of your marriage in your local registration district. You must have lived in that district for a minimum of seven days immediately before the day you give your notice.

If you and your partner live in different areas, you will both need to give notice in your own district (unless one or both of you is subject to immigration control).

Notice can be given up to 12 months before your civil partnership and no less than 28 days before.

Notices cost £35 each, or £47 if one or both parties are subject to the Home Office referral and investigation scheme. If one or both parties are subject to the Home Office referral and investigation scheme the waiting period can be extended to 70 days by the Home Office to allow time for any investigations.

Religious weddings

If you want to be married in the Church of England or the Church of Wales you'll need to contact the Vicar. They'll arrange for the Banns to be called or for a common licence to be issued. These marriages will always be registered by the Vicar.

If you want marry in a church or any other religious building of any other religious denomination you'll need to give a Notice of Marriage to the Registrar in the district where you live.

Weddings abroad

If you want to get married abroad you need to make sure you find out and follow the regulations of the country in which you have chosen to marry. You will find further information on the government website Getting married abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In some cases British citizens may be asked to provide a Certificate of No Impediment. In order to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment you must first book an appointment to give notice at your local Register Office. Please note that this is only possible for British citizens.

How to plan your ceremony

We aim to create a ceremony perfect for you with your ideas, tastes and budgets taken into account.

If you're getting married in one of our approved venues or having a celebration ceremony elsewhere, we'll be pleased to help you plan your ceremony. We can arrange a meeting with you 1 month before the big day when you can tell us all your choices.

For weekday weddings in one of our register offices you'll get a planning sheet to complete informing us of your choices.

Your day has arrived

Arrival

The ceremony

Photographs and videos

Confetti

Contact details

Email registrars.admin@hertfordshire.gov.uk or call us on 0300 123 4045 for more information on our venues and registrars or to answer your questions.

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