1. choose a Venue - view a selection of approved venues in Worcestershire
2. find out the ceremony costs
3. plan your ceremony, by taking a look at our package options that will suit your special day, these can be found further down this page under the tab ‘Ceremony packages’ (you can upgrade your package options at any time)
4. to book the registrars for your chosen venue - please complete an enquiry form and one of our dedicated team will respond to you
5. before making your booking please make sure you have read our terms and conditions, by continuing to book your ceremony through Worcestershire Registration Services, you agree to be bound by these
6. a non-refundable/non-transferable £50 deposit is payable at the time of booking the Registrars for a ceremony; this is applicable to the booking of any ceremony
7. we can also take bookings for ceremonies between 12 months and 3 years to the day in advance, there is an additional non-refundable/non-transferable advanced booking fee of £50 which is also required at the time of booking
8. give notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership before the date of your ceremony - both parties will need to give a separate notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership in person to the Superintendent Registrar for the Registration District where they live - a notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership is valid for twelve months and must be valid at the time of your ceremony

Legal requirements

• before a marriage or civil partnership can take place it is necessary for a notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership to be given
• both parties will need to give in person a separate notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership to the Superintendent Registrar of the District where they live
• documents (e.g. divorce decree absolute/final order, birth certificate, a current valid full passport) will be requested by the Superintendent Registrar; photocopies will not be accepted; Superintendent Registrars will be able to refuse to issue their authority for a marriage to proceed if they are not satisfied that a person is free to marry in this Country

Registration Officers have a legal duty to report any marriage or civil partnership they suspect has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading the statutory immigration controls

There are new rules relating to those subject to immigration control while in the UK, you can find out more on the GOV.UK website.

Witnesses

On the day of the ceremony you will need to bring with you at least two other people who are prepared to witness the marriage and sign the marriage register.

Fees

A fee is payable for:

• the giving of a notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership by each of the parties
• the attendance of a Registrar to register the marriage or civil partnership
• a certified copy of an entry in the Marriage Register (marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate)
• These fees are set by Parliament and may change each year. For marriages at approved venues in Worcestershire there is a fee set by Worcestershire County Council for the attendance of the Superintendent Registrar and Registrar.
   

Before you make your appointment, you must have read and understood all the information on this page, particularly the section about what you need to bring with you to the notice appointment.

By law you must give a notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership, which is a formal declaration of your intention marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales.

The marriage / civil partnership can only take place at the venue you name on the notice(s). If you change the venue you will have to give, and pay for, the notice(s) again, so you need to have booked your venue before you can give notice. The notice(s) will only last for exactly 12 months from the date of the appointment. You can provisionally book your ceremony up to two years in advance if it is taking place in Worcestershire.

Changes for those subject to immigration control

Immigration laws changed on 1 July 2021 to reflect changes brought about following the exit from the EU. Legislative updates regarding immigration will impact the process of taking notices of marriage and civil partnerships.

On 1 July all register offices in England and Wales became specified offices, this means that where one or both parties is subject to immigration control, notice of marriage or civil partnership will need to be given together at a district where either one or both parties reside.

Visa requirements

If you are entering the UK for the purpose of marrying or entering into civil partnership you must check with the UKVI that you have the correct visa to do so; this would usually be a marriage or civil partnership visa. Worcestershire Registration Service are unable to offer any advice regarding immigration matters, please contact the Home Office.

Abuse of immigration laws

We are working with the Home Office to identify marriages and civil partnerships which seek to abuse UK immigration laws.

Anybody found to be arranging, facilitating, or entering into a marriage or civil partnership solely to gain permission to stay in the UK risks arrest or prosecution. Foreign nationals may also face deportation and be barred from re-entering the UK for up to 14 years.

What is the Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership?

A notice is a signed legal statement that is displayed on the register office notice board for 28 clear calendar days. It includes the names, age, marital status, address, occupation, and nationality of the people intending to marry or form a civil partnership. It also states the intended venue for the ceremony.

After 28 clear calendar days, the schedule can be issued on the 29th day after your appointment. This is only valid for 12 calendar months and only for use in the venue stated. If you change your venue or move your ceremony outside of the 12 calendar month validity period, after giving notice, you will need to give fresh notices, including showing all documents, waiting the 28 clear calendar days and paying the fees again.

What documents do I need to provide?

You will need to provide evidence of your name, age, nationality, marital status, address, and immigration status.

If the correct documents, as listed below, are not available at your appointment we will be unable to take your notice - you will need to make another appointment.

Only original documents are accepted, we cannot accept photocopies. However, where proof of address is required a printed copy of an electronic bill or bank statement is acceptable.

Each person giving notice must provide one document from each of the sections below. Some documents such as valid passports can be provided as evidence in multiple sections.

Name and date of birth

• valid passport
• British Birth certificate - your full birth certificate must be provided, and you must also provide another document confirming your current name. e.g. valid driving licence (provisional or full) bank statement (no older than one month), utility bills (no older than three months), council tax bill (only this financial year)
• if you have changed your name from birth - you may need to provide the evidence of the name change; for example, a change of name deed or marriage certificate

Nationality

• valid passport
• British Naturalisation certificate
• British Birth certificate
  • if you were born before 1 January 1983 your full birth certificate must be provided
  • if you were born on or after 1 January 1983, your full birth certificate must be provided, and you must also provide a birth certificate or passport for one of your parents, who were born in the UK; if your parents were married at the time of your birth, or your birth has been re-registered after their marriage, then either of your parent's birth certificates or passports can be provided; otherwise, only your mother's birth certificate or passport can be provided or evidence of your parent's British Citizenship (must have been issued before your birth)

Address

• valid UK photo card driving licence (full or provisional) showing your current address
• utility bill - gas, electric, water, broadband or landline bill dated no more than three months before the date of your appointment;  we will accept printed copies of your electronic bills
• bank or building society statement dated no more than one month before the date of your appointment. We will accept printed copies of your electronic statement
• Council tax or Mortgage statement dated no more than one year before the date of the appointment. We will accept printed copies of your electronic statement

Proof of marital status (if you have been previously married or formed a civil partnership)

• divorced in the UK - an original court stamped copy of your decree absolute/civil partnership dissolution. If you have reverted to your maiden name you must provide your marriage certificate
• divorced anywhere else - If your divorce was not granted in a UK court, you will be required to pay a fee at the time of your appointment for consideration of the validity of the documentation; this fee does not guarantee that the document will be approved

Some divorces/dissolutions can be approved at your notice appointment for a fee of £50.00*.

However, in a lot of cases the documentation will need to be sent off to be considered by the General Register Office for a fee of £75.00**.

We are unable to determine which fee will be payable, until you provide the documentation at your appointment. You must also provide a translation of the document (if applicable) at the time of giving notice.

• former spouse/civil partner has died; you will need to provide a copy of their death certificate;  if you are not named as spouse on the death certificate, you will also need to produce your marriage certificate
• you must provide a translation of any documents (if not already in English) at the time of giving notice

Proof of immigration status

Please note: If either party is a national of an EU country and does not have settled or pre-settled status (or a pending application) or is a national of a non-EU country you may be subject to immigration control.

This means you must give your notices together at the Register Office covering the district in which you have both lived for the preceding 7 clear days. If you both live in different registration districts you must give your notices together at either Register Office.

Registrars cannot give immigration advice.

In addition to the documents you need to provide when giving notice, you must provide evidence of your immigration status:

• proof of settled, pre-settled or pending EUSS status, including the 9-digit alphanumeric share code from the GOV.UK website: View and prove your immigration status (GOV.UK)
• valid Biometric residence permit
• valid UK visa/entry clearance in passport
• valid Home Office endorsement in passport
• valid UK residence permit in passport

If you do not have the correct proof your marriage will be referred to the Home Office, who may decide to extend your notice period for 70 days if they wish to investigate further. The marriage cannot take place until approval is granted by the Home Office. More information on this can be found at Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales.

Photographs

Both parties will also need to provide a colour photograph at the time of giving notice unless you are a British, Irish national or you can provide proof of settled status. Each photograph must be a UK passport style and size and meet the following criteria:

• it should clearly show your face with a neutral expression
• you must not be wearing any head covering (other than for religious or medical reasons)
• you must be photographed alone with no other person or object in shot
• it should be unmarked, unaltered and without tears or creases
• it must be a recent photo and show a current likeness

How much will the notice cost?

There are statutory fees for giving notice they will be either £35.00 per person or if referred to Home Office Immigration £47.00 per person.

* Consideration by a Superintendent Registrar of a divorce/civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles - £50.00.
** Consideration by the Registrar General of a divorce/civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles - £75.00.

Booking an appointment to give notice

To book an appointment to Give Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership: 

Book your appointment - Please note there is currently a fault with the online booking system (see the notice at the top of the page for more information.)

If you need further clarification about your appointment before booking, please complete the Enquiry Form and one of our dedicated team will respond to you.

Complete an enquiry form

Worcestershire Registration Service provide Registrars who are knowledgeable and professional. They will make sure that whatever ceremony you are choosing from our package options below, will not only be within the boundaries of the law, but as unique as you wish.

Classic ceremony

Registration office and approved venues

Recorded music only in Registration Offices

Combination of recorded and/or live music in Licenced Venues

Assorted music for seating of guests

Your choice of music for the:

• entrance
• signing the register
• exit

Option for giving away

• choice of legal declaratory words
• choice of legal contracting words
• choice of ring vow
• up to two readings

To book a classic ceremony in a Registration Office or at an approved premises please complete an enquiry form

Fee applicable to the day of the week an venue see Registration services fees for further details

Enhanced ceremony

Registration office and approved venues

Combination of recorded and/or live music

Assorted music for seating of guests

Your choice of music for the:

• entrance
• signing the register
• exit

Plus two extra songs or music or guests singing or choir or vocalist

Option for giving away

• choice of legal declaratory words
• choice of legal contracting words
• choice of ring vows or personalised ring vows (up to fifty words)
• dogs as Ring Bearers and all other requests are subject to permission of the Superintendent Registrar and the venue.
• up to three Readings
• certificate box

For full details please request our Guidance Notes through our online enquiry form

Fee applicable to the day of the week an venue see Registration services fees for further details

Fully enhanced ceremony

Registration office (Saturday only) and approved venues

Combination of recorded and/or live music

Assorted music for seating of guests

Your choice of music for the:

• entrance
• signing the register
• exit

Plus two extra songs or music or guests singing or choir or vocalist

Option for giving away

Choice of:

• choice of legal declaratory words
• choice of legal contracting words
• choice of ring vows or personalised ring vows (up to fifty words)
• up to four readings
• inclusion of animals taking part is subject to permission of the Superintendent Registrar and the venue
• inclusion of sand ceremony or joining of hands reading
• certificate box
• liaison with Registrar by email or phone
• complete personalisation of ceremony around the legal elements

For full details please request our Guidance Notes through our online enquiry form

Fee applicable to the day of the week an venue see Registration services fees for further details

Bespoke ceremonies

Legal and celebration of marriage

The legal ceremony to be held at a licensed venue. Find a venue for premises details and rooms or outdoor structures.

A legal ceremony has to take place before a Celebration Ceremony can be held.  This can be at the same venue as the legal ceremony or, alternatively, with the inclusion of a Risk Assessment, the Celebration Ceremony can be undertaken at a place of your choosing (subject to any necessary permissions)

The choice and options are endless and this is a truly personalised service

To arrange an appointment to discuss further please complete our online enquiry form

Fee on application as this will depend on location and personalisation 

We hope this guide gives you everything you need to plan your special day, from the first steps of choosing a venue, to navigating the essential legalities:

• Ceremonies guide (PDF)
• Ceremonies guide online flipping book

These are the terms and conditions that users of the Worcestershire Registration services agree to abide by when holding a ceremony at a registration office or at an approved premises in Worcestershire.

• Registration Main Terms and Conditions 2021 (PDF)

Marriage in the Church of England or Church in Wales

If you are a British/EEA/Swiss National you should be able to complete your legal preliminaries through the church using the usual banns process or Archbishop’s Licence process, details of which can be obtained from your parish vicar. 

Please note that at present same sex couples cannot legally marry in an Anglican Church.   

If your vicar requests that you give notice to your registrar you should be aware that a registrar can only take notice of marriage from a British/EEA/Swiss National under the following circumstances:

• One or both of you are resident in the parish where you want to be married for a period of eight nights immediately before giving notice;
  or
• If one or both do not live in the parish or have not been resident in the parish for at least eight nights prior to giving notice, one or both are on the electoral roll of the church and this is their usual place of worship;

As evidence of the above you will need to have:

• A letter from the vicar stating that either one or both parties are parishioners or that one or both parties are on the electoral roll of the church. If you are giving notice more than three months from the date of marriage, the letter should state that the vicar is willing to accept a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate valid for 12 months.

All the rules for giving notice and prescribed evidence requirements are as stated previously. You will need to make an appointment to bring along all the documents required to confirm evidence of your identity, marital status and proof of address.  There is a statutory fee for this service.

If you are a Foreign National and subject to immigration control, you will not be able to use the usual church process for Banns or Licence. This is because the Immigration Act 2014 excludes you from ecclesiastical preliminaries. 
As a result, you will be required to give notice of marriage to a registrar in a Designated Register Office.  Please contact one of the designated offices which can be found on the gov.uk website for further information.

Getting married in a church or chapel of a religion other than the Church of England or Church in Wales

If you are a same sex couple, you can only marry in a church or chapel, which has been registered for that purpose.

Details of churches in your area that are registered for same sex marriages can be obtained from your local registration service.

It is necessary for all couples wishing to marry in a church or chapel other than Church of England or Church in Wales to give notice of marriage to their local registrar. If one or both parties to the marriage are subject to immigration control then notices must be given at a designated office.  Please contact one of the designated offices which can be found on the gov.uk website for further information.

All the rules for giving notice and prescribed evidence requirements are as stated previously. You will need to make an appointment to bring along all the documents required to confirm evidence of your identity, marital status and proof of address.  There is a statutory fee for this service.

In order to marry in a church or chapel other than the Church of England in Worcestershire, the church or chapel must be registered for marriages and the following requirements must be satisfied:

• One or both of you must live in Worcestershire for a period of at least eight nights immediately before notice is given;
  or
• If neither of you live in Worcestershire nor have been resident for a period of at least eight nights in Worcestershire prior to giving notice, the church or chapel in which you wish to marry must be your usual place of worship;
  or
• If neither of you live in Worcestershire, and there is no church or chapel of your denomination in your own local area, then the church or chapel in Worcestershire should be the nearest one to you geographically of the denomination under which you worship.

Please check with your church or chapel to find out if the church or chapel holds its own marriage register, and has an appointed person at the church or chapel who can register the marriage. 

Please note that if this is not the case, the attendance of a registrar will be required to register the marriage. The time and date must be mutually acceptable and pre booked with Worcestershire Registration Service, you can do this by contacting us on 01905 768181. There are additional statutory charges to pay if the attendance of a registrar is needed; this fee should be paid at least three calendar months prior or the date of the ceremony. 

A ceremony to perhaps celebrate your first wedding anniversary, 10 Years, Silver or Golden Anniversary… or just because you want to!

One of our Celebrant Registrars will perform a Renewal of Vows ceremony in almost any venue of your choice. It does not need to be a Licensed Venue. You can follow the format of a traditional wedding ceremony or enhance your ceremony in any way you wish. This can involve your family and friends, including those who were with you on your wedding day, remembering all those moments in life that will make your day forever special. Our Celebrant Registrar will meet you, discuss options, listen to your ideas and, together with you, will make it happen.

To find out more email the registeroffice@worcestershire.gov.uk.

You can commit to each other in a non-legal ceremony style of your choice. Vows can be written to express your thoughts and feelings about your lives together and your hopes and dreams for the future. Rings can be exchanged and you can also sign a Certificate of Commitment. Come and talk to one of our Celebrant Registrars about the various options possible to make your special day a reality.

To find out more email the registeroffice@worcestershire.gov.uk.

Celebrate with your family and friends to confirm your baby’s or children’s registered names; celebrate the joining of two families, an adopted child, or children, into your family.

These ceremonies are non-religious and carry no legal status. There is no age limit, and the ceremony can be for one child or a whole family!

Let us help you make this a memorable ceremony where everyone can be involved from grandparents to other family members and friends, joining together with special poems or songs.

One of our Celebrant Registrars will work with you to create a ceremony in almost any location of your choice.

To find out more please contact us

Certificate of No Impediment 

Each country is different in their requirements and so, in the first instance, you must contact the government for the country in which you wish to marry in order to establish exactly what their requirements are.   

1. Use the GOV.UK - Getting married abroad to find out who you need to contact in order to confirm requirements. Some countries will request a Certificate of No Impediment; these can only be provided for British nationals via the Register Office in the district in which you live.
2. You must find out, from the authorities in the country in which you wish to marry, how long the certificate is valid for in that country, as it must be valid on the day of the wedding.
3. You should also find out if they require you get your document legalised (obtaining an Apostille) once the certificate has been collected from the Register Office in the district where you live. Visit GOV.UK - Get your document legalised for more information.
4. Once you have this information you should contact your local Register Office to arrange an appointment.
5. You will need to know at least the town and country where the marriage is taking place along with any unusual spellings.

What information you will need to show

The following ORIGINAL documents MUST be produced when you give notice, otherwise, the Registrar may not be able to complete your Notice.

These documents must be in a hardcopy format, digital versions will not be acceptable e.g. viewed on a mobile device.

If you do not possess any of the following please contact the Registration Service for advice, via email registeroffice@worcestershire.gov.uk.

1. Proof of name and nationality

If you were born before 1 January 1983

either

• a current valid passport (no further evidence of name and nationality is required in this case)

or

• a Birth Certificate (you can request a copy birth certificate online if born in Worcestershire)
• in addition, you must bring one of the following documents as a contemporary evidence of your full name
  • valid UK driving licence
  • utility bill dated no more than 3 months before date on which notice is given
  • bank statement dated no more than 1 month before date on which notice is given
  • council tax bill dated no more than 1 year before date on which notice is given

If you were born on or after 1 January 1983

either

• a current valid passport (no further evidence of name and nationality is required in this case)

or

• a full Birth Certificate, this will need to show your parent's full names (you can request a copy birth certificate online if born in Worcestershire) together with proof of parent's nationality (mother's birth certificate or her current valid passport, providing the document used shows her name as it is recorded on your own birth certificate and she was born before the 1 January 1983 and was British at the time of your birth)
• in addition, you must bring one of the following documents as a contemporary evidence of your full name
  • valid UK driving licence
  • utility bill dated no more than 3 months before date on which notice is given
  • bank statement dated no more than 1 month before date on which notice is given
  • council tax bill dated no more than 1 year before date on which notice is given

2. Documents ending any former Marriage or Civil Partnership

For example:

• Certified Decree Absolute 
• Certified Civil Partnership Dissolution Certificate 
• Certified Death Certificate (You can request a copy death certificate online if event occurred in Worcestershire)

Note

• a widower, widow or surviving civil partner will be required to provide evidence linking the deceased with themselves if they are not detailed on the death certificate

• if your marriage or partnership (and subsequent divorce or dissolution) occurred outside of the UK, you must provide official divorce or dissolution documentation and a translation if necessary, which may have to be sent to the General Register Office for authorisation; * a fee is now payable for consideration of these documents

3. Proof of your current address (any one of below)

• valid UK driving licence (provisional or full)
• council tax bill dated no more than 1 year before date on which notice is given 
• utility bill e.g. gas, electricity, water dated no more than 3 months before date on which notice is given
• bank statement dated no more than 1 month before date on which notice is given 
• letter signed and dated by the home owner stating that the notice giver has been resident at that address for at least the previous eight nights prior to the Notice appointment

4. Any document concerning a change of name or nationality

You will need to give at least 28 clear days' notice before the Certificate of No Impediment can be issued. For example, if you give notice on the 1st day of the month the earliest the certificate would be issued is 30th of that same month (this would be the 29th day after the giving of your notice).

How much will it cost?

There is a statutory fee for giving notice it is £35.00 each.

* Consideration by a Superintendent Registrar of a divorce/civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles - £50.00.
* Consideration by the Registrar General of a divorce/civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles - £75.00.

Where can I have an appointment?

If you reside in Worcestershire, find your local Registration Office:

• Worcestershire Registration Offices

Marriage Under Foreign Local Law

A marriage solemnized in a foreign country will be registered in that country under local law. Marriages of British subjects in a foreign country cannot be registered in England unless one of the couple is a serving member of, or attached to, the British Armed Forces at the time of the marriage. In these cases, the marriage can be registered by the appropriate service authority upon application and submission of satisfactory proof of the marriage. A certified copy of the entry may be obtained from the service registering officer who will send copies of entries in the service register to the Registrar General bi-annually. Marriage certificates can then be obtained, at the usual fees, from the General Register Office (Certificate Services) on 0300 123 1837.