Your ceremony
When you book a BCP ceremony, you will be able to manage your booking online: i.e. book an appointment to serve your notice of marriage/civil partnership, pay your balance, and you will also receive a planner for you to complete and return. (Planners and balance payments are not included for a basic register office ceremony.) If you choose not to manage your own booking you will be able to do all of these things with guidance from our helpful Ceremonies and Registration Team. Your planner will ensure that your ceremony is personal to you and from here, your registrar will be able to tailor your ceremony and make it uniquely yours. Personalising Your Ceremony Here are some things for you to consider. • Are you going to be walked down the aisle and follow tradition by being given away by someone close and special to you? • Would you like to make a personal promise to each other? We can give you some suggestions or you might want to write your own. • Think about music. Choose pieces to walk down the aisle to, for when you are signing your legal paperwork and to walk out to at the close of the ceremony. You may even have some live music that you wish to incorporate during the ceremony, the choice is yours! • Readings are a wonderful way to involve friends and family. Readings must be non-religious and plenty of inspiration can be found online, just google non-religious wedding/civil partnership readings. • Are you going to be exchanging rings? We have a selection of ring vows but you might like to write your own. Would you like a ring bearer? There are plenty of things to think about and of course you may wish to have a simple legal ceremony with no fuss which is fine. Remember this is your day. You get to plan the perfect day, your way! A Sample Ceremony • Entrance of the bridal/partnership party (chosen music) • Giving away • Welcome and introduction • Legal declarations • Reading • Personal promises • Exchange of rings • Legal vows • Reading • Signing the legal paperwork (chosen music) • Photo opportunity (chosen music) • Announcement of newly married/partnered couple (chosen music) Nb. Ceremonies in the BCP Register Office are kept to the minimum legal requirement, without music, readings or personal promises. Ceremonies in the Laurels do not include readings. Contact us: Bournemouth or Christchurch: b-c.ceremonies@bcpcouncil.gov.uk Poole: poole.ceremonies@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
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