Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Welcome to your ceremony in Hertfordshire A guide to arranging the most important day of your life! Congratulations to you both. It is so important to find the perfect setting to celebrate your relationship and make that life-long commitment. We are delighted that you have chosen Hertfordshire and we will do everything we can to ensure you have the ceremony of your dreams.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

@hitchedinherts

Perfect Memories Photography

Contents Welcome to your ceremony in Hertfordshire

After giving notice of marriage or civil partnership

p. 3

p. 23

p.24

Marriage and Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Planning your marriage ceremony

p. 4

p. 25

On the day

Choosing a register office in Hertfordshire

p. 6

p. 26

Planning a civil partnership ceremony

p. 7-14

p. 27

The Hertfordshire register offices

Frequently asked questions

Perfect Memories Photography

Choosing an approved venue in Hertfordshire / Outside ceremonies

Getting married in a church or religious building

p. 15

p. 28

Approved venues in the county of Hertfordshire

Weddings abroad / Changes to your passport / Re-registration of your children p. 29

p. 16-17

p. 18

Celebration ceremonies

Changing your name after marriage or civil partnership

p. 30

p. 19

How to book your ceremony

p. 32-46

Sponsoring venues

Legal preliminaries to marriage or civil partnership / When and where can you give notice?

p. 47-54

Local wedding services

p. 20

What documents do you need to take to your notice appointment?

p. 21-22

Perfect Memories Photography

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Zoë Cooper Photography

Welcome to your ceremony in Hertfordshire A guide to arranging your perfect ceremony Congratulations to you both. It is so important to find the perfect setting to celebrate your relationship and make a lifelong commitment. We are delighted that you are considering Hertfordshire and we will do everything we can to ensure you have the ceremony of your dreams. As you read through this brochure, we will provide you with step-by-step information to help you decide where to have your ceremony, how to book the date, complete the legal requirements and enjoy your special day. There are eight register offices offering attractive ceremony rooms in Hertfordshire, plus nearly 100 approved venues, so there is plenty of choice to suit everyone. Whether you prefer a small intimate occasion or a more elaborate celebration on a larger scale, we will ensure you receive a professional and committed service from our staff. If you would like to speak to a Registration Officer or view one of our ceremony rooms, please call us on 0300 123 4045. Alternatively, you can view many beautiful photographs of our register offices and venues on our Instagram @hitchedinherts and on our website www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars.

Zoë Cooper Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Marriage and Civil Partnership Ceremonies A civil marriage ceremony A civil marriage is a legal marriage solemnised as a civil contract without a religious ceremony. It can be between a man and a woman or a couple of the same sex. You can choose to have your civil marriage ceremony in any register office or approved venue in Hertfordshire. A civil marriage is contracted on the two spoken legal declarations, the first is that you are free to marry and the second is the contracting vow. It can be a very simple ceremony with just two witnesses, or we can help you create a ceremony enhanced with readings and music that is unique to you. There is legal paperwork to complete before you get married and we can guide you through this. For more information on this please see page 20.

A civil partnership ceremony A civil partnership is a legal relationship which can be registered by two people who are not related to each other. Civil partnerships are available to both same- sex couples and opposite-sex couples. Registering a civil partnership will give your relationship legal recognition. This will give you added legal rights, as well as responsibilities.

The registration may be a simple short signing, or you may wish to celebrate with a small ceremony or maybe a larger ceremony

enhanced with readings and music. There is legal paperwork to complete before you form your civil partnership and we can guide you through this. For more information on this please see page 20.

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Carla Thomas Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Bishop’s Stortford

Hertford

Perfect Memories Photography

Cheshunt

St Albans

Hatfield

Stevenage

Hemel Hempstead

Watford

Choosing a register office in Hertfordshire

The ceremony rooms at our eight register offices offer a variety of styles and capacities. From mock-Tudor through to more contemporary styles and riverside locations, to attractive garden settings for photographs after the ceremony. We offer ceremonies every day of the week. On set days, we offer simple You and Two ceremonies in our offices in Watford, Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead.

In order to help you decide which register office you prefer, further details for the individual offices can be found on pages 7-14, on our Instagram @hitchedinherts or on our website at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ registrars Viewings can be arranged during office hours. Please call us on 0300 123 4045 to arrange an appointment. Our administration team can advise you of availability and prices for all our offices. Information on how to make a booking can be found on page 19.

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Bishop’s Stortford Register Office Riverside House 2 Hockerill Street Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2DL

Riverside House is a charming mock-Tudor building situated in the old market town of Bishop’s Stortford just next to the River Stort. The impressive Tudor Room is upstairs and provides the perfect setting for your ceremony.

Andrew Buckle Photography

The Georgian Room, downstairs, is smaller and more intimate with disabled access.

The maximum number of guests permitted for the Tudor Room is 50 and for the Georgian Room 12 . The riverside and Castle Gardens opposite the building are ideal locations for photographs after the ceremony.

Parking is available in public car parks only a short walk away.

For information on how to book either of the ceremony rooms in Bishop’s Stortford, please see page 19.

Andrew Buckle Photography

Bells Wedding Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Perfect Memories Photography

Cheshunt Register Office Bishop’s College Churchgate Cheshunt EN8 9XH

The beautifully appointed Octagonal Suite sits at the heart of Bishop’s College, a former theological college founded by The Dowager Countess of Huntingdon in the eighteenth century. This bright, welcoming room has a splendid and unusual wooden vaulted ceiling with natural light streaming through tall attractive leaded windows. It is beautifully furnished and boasts attractive floral arrangements. The maximum number of guests permitted for the Octagonal Suite is 50. The grounds feature a small lake, a bridge over the New River, mature gardens and trees. All of this, together with the attractive buildings and ornate stone arches, offer excellent opportunities for photographs.

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There is a pay and display car park at the front of the building and limited on-street parking.

For information on how to book the ceremony room in Cheshunt, please see page 19.

Perfect Memories Photography

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Andrew Buckle Photography

Hatfield Register Office 19b St Albans Road East Hatfield AL10 0NG The Garden Room offers a splendid modern setting and leads out to a courtyard garden which can be used for photographs. The maximum number of guests permitted is 50.

There is ample parking with access for your guests.

For information on how to book a ceremony in Hatfield, please see page 19.

Andrew Buckle Photography

Helen Weir Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Andrew Buckle Photography

Hemel Hempstead Register Office The Forum, Marlowes Hemel Hempstead HP1 1DN

The Hemel Hempstead Register Office is located on the first floor of the Forum, part of Dacorum Borough Council’s civic hub in the heart of Hemel Hempstead. The building is situated on the Marlowes, close to the re-landscaped Water Gardens and Gadebridge Park. The Gadebury Room is modern, light and welcoming. The maximum number of guests permitted is 40.

There are several public car parks within easy walking distance.

Andrew Buckle Photography

For information on how to book the ceremony rooms in Hemel Hempstead please see page 19.

Gadebridge Park

Zoë Cooper Photography

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Andrew Buckle Photography

Helen Weir Photography

Hertford Register Office County Hall Hertford SG13 8DE

The Oak Room provides a calm and dignified setting for ceremonies. The spacious and classically furnished room is flooded with natural light and comfortably seats a maximum of 50 guests. The pretty Millennium Garden by the side of the Oak Room has an accessible paved area. The sheltered Cloisters by the main County Hall entrance make a stunning setting for photographs whatever the weather.

There is ample parking for you and your guests.

Helen Weir Photography

For information on how to book the ceremony room in Hertford, please see page 19.

Helen Weir Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

St Albans Register Office

The Gatehouse 1 Victoria Square Victoria Street St Albans AL1 3TF

The Gatehouse was originally the governor’s residence of a Victorian prison and is a unique setting for any ceremony. The ceremony room is situated on the ground floor and has been furnished with bespoke furniture to reflect the building’s historic character. The maximum number of guests permitted is 60. The Gatehouse is surrounded by beautiful gardens which feature a striking 1840 siege cannon. The original prison doors and walls, which have featured in many television and film productions, provide a picturesque and unusual backdrop for photographs. There is unlimited parking at the weekends but a restricted permit-parking-only scheme operates during the week (permits are available from registration staff). There is also public parking a short walk away.

Andrew Buckle Photography

For information on how to book the ceremony room in St Albans please see page 19.

Andrew Buckle Photography

Zoë Cooper Photography

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Stevenage Register Office Danesgate House Danesgate, Stevenage SG1 1WW

Danesgate House offers a contemporary setting for your special day, centrally located in the new town.

The ceremony room is modern and light. The maximum number of guests permitted is 40.

Andrew Buckle Photography

There is also an opportunity for photographs to be taken in the courtyard garden and under the Gazebo, which is also licenced for ceremonies during the summer months.

For information on how to book the ceremony room in Stevenage, please see page 19.

Andrew Buckle Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Andrew Buckle Photography

Helen Weir Photography

Watford Register Office 31 Hempstead Road Watford WD17 3EY The Orangery is a delightful ceremony room, previously forming part of the Grade II-listed Little Cassiobury site. The room is furnished with elegant simplicity and it is flooded with natural light which streams in through three sets of arched French doors which open onto an attractive garden. Planted with shrubs and trees, the outside area has a stone-flagged patio complemented by bricked walkways and a pretty arbour with its own seating.

Both inside and out, The Orangery is a beautiful place which will ensure that you will have wonderful photographs of your special day.

Car parking is available for you and your guests.

For information on how to book the ceremony room in Watford, please see page 19.

The maximum number of guests permitted for the Orangery is 30.

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Helen Weir Photography

Choosing an approved venue in Hertfordshire As an alternative to the register offices, many couples choose to hold their ceremonies in approved venues throughout the county.

Outside ceremonies Many couples dream of having their wedding outside, and we have a number of approved venues that are able to offer beautiful outside settings in which the legal marriage or civil partnership ceremony can take place. These outdoor locations are situated in beautiful gardens, by lakes or even pretty woodland. Legal marriage and civil partnership ceremonies are able to take place in an approved outdoor space of one of our venues. This applies only to approved venues and not religious premises or other outdoor areas. Please speak to your chosen approved venue for further details. Please remember that it may not always be possible to hold the ceremony outside due to inclement weather, which may include rain, wind or even extremely hot and sunny conditions with no shade. It will therefore be necessary to have an inside option just in case. The Registrars will have the final decision on the day taking into consideration the safety and wellbeing of you and your guests.

When it comes to choosing your perfect venue, you can be sure to find exactly what you’re looking for with a huge choice of hotels, country clubs, golf clubs, historical buildings and even a castle. You may wish to make your choice based on location, style of venue, or budget. Please refer to pages 16 and 17 of this brochure where all the venues are listed and shown on the county map. Before choosing your preferred venue, you will need to check that they have availability on your chosen date. Registrars are able to attend ceremonies at approved venues during the week and on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Please check with our administration team on 0300 123 4045 if you require an evening ceremony.

Helen Weir Photography

Information on how to make a booking for an approved venue can be found on page 19.

Helen Weir Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Approved venues in the county of Hertfordshire

Aldenham Golf & Country Club

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Marriott Hanbury Manor Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel Mercure St Albans Noke Hotel

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47 48 49 50

Aldenham School

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Aldwickbury Park Golf Club

Allum Manor

Metropolitan Police Bushey Sports Club

Almshoe Bury Farm Ardmore House Hotel Ashridge House Aubrey Park Hotel Barley Town House Berkhamsted Town Hall

Micklefield Hall

Mill Green Golf Club Milling Barn (The) Moor Park Golf Club Needham House Hotel North Mymms Park Novotel Stevenage

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

Best Western Watermill Hotel

Bhageecha

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Brickendon Grange

Offley Place

Broadway Hotel

Old Palace & Riding School (Hatfield Park)

Brocket Hall

Pendley Manor Hotel

Bushey Country Club

Place House Hall

Chesfield Downs Golf Club Coltsfoot Country Retreat Delta by Marriott Cheshunt

Ponsbourne Park Hotel

62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Putteridge Bury

Rothamsted Manor Sadie Centre (The) Sandon Manor Shendish Manor

Double Tree by Hilton London Elstree

Dyrham Park Country Club Essendon Country Club

Fanhams Hall

Forum Conference & Banqueting Suites

Shenley Park

Shire London (The)

Great Hadham Country Club

Sopwell House Hotel & Country Club

Grove (The)

St Albans Museum & Gallery

Henry Moore Foundation

St Michael’s Manor St Paul’s Walden Bury

72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

Hertford Castle

Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club

Stevenage Golf & Conference Centre

Hilton London Watford

Sun Hotel

Hitchin Priory

Tewin Bury Farm The Barn at Alswick The Barn Tea Green

Hitchin Town Hall

Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead

Holiday Inn Luton South Holiday Inn Stevenage Homestead Court Hotel Hotel Cromwell Hunton Park Hotel Knebworth Park Langley Banqueting & Conference Suites Letchworth Hall Hotel Lodge Farm House Manor Elstree (The)

The Cloisters

The Farmhouse at Redcoats

The Kite at Red Hart

The View

82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

The Waterside

The Woodman Inn

The Woodman Inn Lodge & Restaurant 01707 650502

Three Horseshoes

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42 43 44 45 46

Three Lakes Restaurant

Village Hotel Ware Priory

Manor House

Manor of Groves Hotel

Woolmer Green Village Hall

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Zoë Cooper Photography

Baldock

Letchworth Garden City

Hitchin

75 81

Buntingford

80 55

Stevenage

Bishop’s Stortford

Sawbridgeworth

Ware

Welwyn Garden City

Harpenden

Hertford

St Albans Hatfield

Hemel Hempstead

71 72 70

56 85

Potters Bar

Cheshunt

1 2

20 21 69

26 41 31

Watford

50 88

Rickmansworth

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Daniela K Photography

Celebration ceremonies We can offer you a celebratory ceremony at any location in Hertfordshire

for legal ceremonies. You will be required to produce your marriage or civil partnership certificate. For more information on booking a ceremony please contact our administration team on 0300 123 4045. A renewal of vows ceremony If you wish to renew your marriage or civil partnership vows, for example, to celebrate a special anniversary, then you can choose to have a renewal of vows ceremony. You can have your ceremony in one of our register office ceremony rooms, an approved venue or somewhere else such as a village hall or even your own garden. We have conducted renewal ceremonies in some beautiful places including woodlands, fields and by the riverside. There are many reasons why a couple may choose to renew their commitment to each other. Most obviously a ceremony will be held to celebrate a special anniversary such as the tenth, silver, pearl, ruby or gold. We can create a unique ceremony just for you and offer you the choice to enhance your ceremony with music and readings. For more information on booking any of these ceremonies please contact our administration team on 0300 123 4045.

A legal and celebratory ceremony A legal and celebratory ceremony

incorporates both your legal ceremony and celebratory ceremony for marriage or civil partnership. The legal ceremony must be held first at a register office in Hertfordshire. The celebratory ceremony can be held in a place that is not approved for legal ceremonies such as a village hall or a marquee in your garden at home. You can also have a celebratory ceremony outside in the grounds of your chosen venue. You must complete the legal preliminaries before your legal and celebratory ceremony. For more information on booking a ceremony please contact our administration team on 0300 123 4045.

Daniela K Photography

A celebratory ceremony If you are already married or in a civil

partnership and you wish to have a non-legal ceremony to celebrate your marriage or civil partnership, then you can choose to have one of our celebratory ceremonies. A celebratory ceremony is a non-legal ceremony to celebrate your recent marriage or civil partnership. This option is ideal if you have been married or had a civil partnership ceremony abroad and now wish to celebrate with family and friends who were unable to attend your legal ceremony. The celebratory ceremony can be held in a register office, an approved venue or in a place not approved

Helen Weir Photography Daniela K Photography

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Helen Weir Photography

How to book your ceremony First of all, decide where you wish to be married or have your civil partnership ceremony. If this is at a register office, contact us to book the date, time and place. If you choose an approved venue, check available dates and provisionally book with them before contacting us to book the registrars. Telephone our central number on 0300 123 4045 where a team dedicated to making bookings will advise you on availability and will be able to book the date for you. You are welcome to book well in advance, even though you will only be able to complete the legal preliminaries within 12 months of the ceremony. We will then send you a ceremony booking form advising you of the timescale within which you must give your legal notice of intention of marriage or civil partnership (please see pages 20 to 23 for details on how to do this). If you need to attend a Hertfordshire office to give notice, you can book this appointment online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars. Once the provisional booking has been made with the registration service, you should then go back and confirm with the venue if your ceremony is to be held at one of our approved venues.

Helen Weir Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Bells Wedding Photography

Legal preliminaries to marriage or civil partnership A notice of marriage / notice of civil partnership is a legal declaration which must be given individually by each of you in person. A notice is venue specific and valid for 12 months from the date the notice is given, so before booking an appointment you need to have decided where and when you would like to get married or form your civil partnership and have made a provisional booking with the venue and / or local registration service. If, after giving notice, you change the ceremony venue or the date is moved beyond 12 months from the date of your appointment, you must give a new notice and pay the fees again. Your notice will be displayed publicly for 28 clear days before your legal paperwork can be issued. However, if one or both parties to the marriage / civil partnership is subject to immigration control, this legal wait period may be extended, by the Home Office, to 70 days. Please do ensure that you plan ahead as your marriage or civil partnership cannot take place if the legal preliminaries are not carried out in sufficient time to allow for the marriage or civil partnership schedule to be issued ahead of the ceremony date.

When and where can you give notice? The requirements are different depending on your nationality If you are British, Irish or an EEA citizen with EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status granted or applied for before 30 June 2021: • You must each give your notice of marriage or civil partnership at the Register Office in the district where you have lived for a minimum of seven clear days before giving notice.

If you both live in Hertfordshire you can book a double appointment and attend together.

If one or both of you are a non-EEA national or an EEA citizen without EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status:

• You must book a notice appointment in the district where one of you has lived for a minimum of seven clear days before giving notice.

• You must book a double notice appointment and attend together.

To book a notice appointment at one of the Hertfordshire Register Offices book online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk or by telephoning 0300 123 4045.

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

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What documents do you need to take to your notice appointment? The documents required are prescribed by law and must be originals. Photocopies or electronic versions are not accepted.

If you are from the EU, EEA or have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement scheme.

• In addition to bringing a valid passport to your appointment, if one or both of you are EEA nationals with EUSS status granted or applied for before 30 June 2021 you must obtain a unique code prior to your appointment which will allow the Registrar to check and verify your immigration status. The code is valid for a period of 30 days so please ensure that it is valid on the day of your appointment. The code can be obtained by visiting https://www.gov.uk/view-prove- immigration-status. • Your certificate of application if you made an application to the EU settlement scheme on or before 30 June 2021 and you are waiting for the Home Office to make a decision

You will need to provide evidence of:

Your nationality: You will need to bring a valid passport.

If you are British and you do not have a valid passport,

• A Citizenship certificate confirming British Citizenship; or • British birth certificates • If you were born prior to 1 January 1983 we will need to see either your full or short birth certificate. • If you were born on or after 1 January 1983 we will need to see your full birth certificate, which includes your parents’ details, PLUS either your mother or father’s British birth certificate if your parents were married when you were born. If your parents were unmarried when you were born then only your mother’s birth certificate can be accepted. If your parents were born outside the UK, then you must provide evidence of their British nationality at the time of your birth. • If your parents were born on or after 1 January 1983 we will also need to see evidence of their parents’ nationality.

If you or your partner are from outside the UK.

• In addition to bringing a valid passport to your appointment, if you or your partner are from outside the UK, you will need to bring a passport-sized photo for each of you (even if only one of you is from outside the UK). • If you are from outside the UK you must bring evidence of your immigration status (for example, your visa). Your address: Please bring ONE of the following: • Utility bill dated no more than three months prior to the date of the appointment. • Bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month prior to the date of the appointment.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

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• Council tax bill dated no more than one year prior to the date of the appointment. • Mortgage statement from the last 12 months. • Current residential tenancy agreement. • Valid UK or Irish driving licence in the name of the person giving notice. • Letter from the owner or proprietor of the address which is the person’s place of residence; proof will be required that the person is the tenant or householder e.g. current tenancy agreement/mortgage statement. This letter must include: • the name, address, date and signature of the owner / proprietor; • confirmation that this person is the owner / proprietor; and • confirmation of the name of the person giving notice and that they have been resident at the address for at least the eight days immediately prior to the notice appointment.

• These should be the original version with the court stamp. • If your decree absolute is a digital version with a black stamp, you will need to print this document to bring along to your appointment. • We cannot accept PDF scanned versions of your decree absolute. • If your divorce was granted outside England and Wales , we will need to see the final divorce documents issued along with a full translation into English if the document was written in any other language. • A fee is chargeable for clearance of any divorces granted in countries outside England and Wales. Please note, these may have to be referred to the General Register Office for the Registrar General to confirm whether the document is acceptable under British law. It is not possible to issue the legal documents for your ceremony to proceed until your foreign documents have been approved. Please do take this into account when considering a marriage or formation date as there may be a significant delay before a ceremony can take place. • The death certificate of the spouse / civil partner – if the surviving partner is not mentioned on the death certificate then you must also provide a certified copy of the marriage or civil partnership certificate. • The presumed death certificate of the spouse.

Evidence of your age: Please bring one of the following: • A valid passport • British birth certificate • Valid Biometric Immigration Document

If none of the above are available, please contact the General Register Office on 0300 123 1837 for guidance.

Evidence of any name changes: Evidence of any name change (marriage certificate; deed poll etc). Evidence of previous legal relationships: If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, we will need to see: • Decree absolute or final order or dissolution order

If some of your documents are not in English If any of your documents are in any language other than English, you will need to bring the original document plus a full translation, into English, certified at the bottom of the document by the translator stating “I certify this to be a true translation of the document”. The name, address, telephone number and signature of the person who translated the document(s) must be included.

Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

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After giving notice of marriage or civil partnership Once you have successfully given notice and • the legal wait period has passed; • any investigations by the Home Office have been carried out (if applicable); • any foreign divorce documentation has been cleared by the General Register Office (if applicable) then your marriage or civil partnership schedule will be issued which means that your legal ceremony can take place. The schedule will be printed in the district where your ceremony is taking place and will be retained by the register office if the ceremony is taking place at the register office or an approved venue within that district. For religious ceremonies the schedule can be collected or may be sent to the religious building in advance of the ceremony date.

Helen Weir Photography

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Bells Wedding Photography

Planning your marriage ceremony As soon as you have completed the legal preliminaries you will be provided with information about planning your ceremony, including the wording choices. In Hertfordshire, we understand how important it is to make sure that you have a ceremony that is very personal to you. You will already have seen how much choice there is on offer when arranging your perfect day and we aim to continue this by making available a ceremony that is tailor-made for you. First of all, you can decide if you would like a very simple ceremony or a very elaborate one or something in between. All the usual options are available to you, such as being ‘given away`, having readings or recorded or live music, exchanging rings and now, in addition, the chance to create a unique ceremony with your own personal touches. For ceremonies at one of our approved venues, weekend ceremonies at a register office, or a celebratory ceremony elsewhere, you will be invited to arrange a planning meeting with us to discuss the details of the ceremony. For weekday ceremonies in one of our register offices, you will be provided with a planning sheet to complete to let us know about all your choices. If you do include any music and readings in your ceremony, the only restriction is religious content which cannot be incorporated into a civil ceremony.

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Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Helen Weir Photography

On the day After all the planning, the moment is almost here, so to ensure your day runs smoothly, here is a guide to what happens and when. Arrival Please ensure you arrive on time so the ceremony can start at the time you have booked, as the Registrars will have other ceremonies to attend. Your guests will need to arrive about 30 minutes beforehand to ensure your ceremony starts on time. When planning your journey make allowances for any possible traffic delays, parking or pre-wedding photos. Before the ceremony starts the Registrars will need to see each of you either together or separately to privately check through your details and ensure everything is recorded correctly. This is also an opportunity to discuss what you will be saying and answer any last minute questions you may have. The Registrars will also explain to the escorts and anyone else involved what they need to do to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly. The ceremony Please don’t worry about being nervous or think you will forget the words you have to say. The Registrars will guide you through the ceremony and ask you to repeat any words that you have to say.

chosen some words to be said about your commitment to each other and you may have included readings to enhance your ceremony. Finally, you will be able to make your promises to each other and exchange rings if desired. You will then be asked to check all the information recorded on the schedule and then both sign, followed by the witnesses and then the Registrars. Photographs and video The Registrars will speak to your appointed photographer/ videographer and guests as to any restrictions when taking pictures during the ceremony. There will be an opportunity to pose for photographs in the ceremony after you have signed the legal documents. Registration of your marriage The details from your marriage schedule will be entered on the electronic register within seven days. Obtaining your marriage certificates To apply for your marriage certificate please go to www. hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars. Your order will be processed within four working days and posted first class. You will not be able to obtain a marriage certificate on the day of your ceremony.

Your job is just to relax and enjoy your ceremony.

The ceremony will commence with an introduction by the Registrar, followed by the legal declaratory and contractual words which you will be asked to repeat in turn. You will have

Please note, the certificate will have the names that you used to contract your marriage and not your new married names.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Helen Weir Photography

Planning a civil partnership ceremony For a civil partnership there is no legal

will not be able to obtain a civil partnership certificate on the day of your ceremony.

requirement to hold a ‘ceremony’ or to speak aloud any words, however, some couples wish to have a ceremony to celebrate their partnership and we are very happy to help arrange that. If you have decided to have a ceremony we will give you guidance and options; you may include vows to each other, exchange of rings or gifts, music and readings. We will be pleased to help and advise you to create a ceremony that feels right for you both. Your ceremony will be the focal point of a very special day. There are no compulsory words, so you have a wide choice of words you may wish to say. However, it is important to have a structured and formal ceremony as this confirms your commitment to each other in front of your invited guests. After your ceremony the details from the civil partnership schedule will be entered on the electronic register within seven days. You

To apply for your civil partnership certificate please go to www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ registrars. Your order will be processed within four working days and posted first class. Converting a civil partnership to marriage You can convert your same-sex civil partnership into a marriage at any Hertfordshire Register Office or approved venue. For further information please visit our website at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ registrars or call our administration team on 0300 123 4045. There is currently no provision for couples in an opposite-sex civil partnership to convert their civil partnership to a marriage.

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Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

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Frequently asked questions I understand that my partner and I must be interviewed by the Registrar prior to the ceremony but we don’t want to see each other until I walk down the aisle. Can we arrange this? We can conduct the interviews separately, both at the venues and at our offices, so one of you should arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to start and the other 15 minutes before. Ask your guests to arrive 30 minutes early in order to be seated in the ceremony room, then no-one else will see you until you make your entrance. Who can walk me in? You can be escorted by a member of your family, a friend or you may wish to enter together as a couple, the choice is yours. You may also choose to be accompanied by bridesmaids or flower girls and groomsmen or page boys. Can I arrive fashionably late? Whilst brides are notoriously depicted on television and in films arriving late, this is definitely not the case in reality. Please ensure you arrive on time so the ceremony can start at the time you have booked, as the Registrars will have other ceremonies to attend. Make sure you allow enough time to get ready and to cope with any traffic delays and ask your guests to do the same. Then you can have the enjoyable and relaxed ceremony that you have planned. I am very nervous about saying the words – what if I can’t remember them? Don’t worry, you don’t need to learn or try to remember everything you say, as you will be asked to repeat everything after the Registrar, just a few words at a time. Even if you were to make a mistake they would just say them again for you. The most you will have to say on your own is “I do”! What if I get a fit of the giggles? Sometimes our emotions can take us by surprise and both laughter and tears are part of the same emotion. Rest assured, the Registrars are very experienced at dealing with both and will help you overcome it by giving you time to compose yourself and carry on. Most couples find themselves so busy concentrating on what the Registrar is telling them to do that they sail through the ceremony without any problems!

Can we write our own vows? You must repeat the legal words to contract your marriage but you are welcome to make your own promises when you exchange rings or gifts. The Registrar will need to approve a copy of these first. As these are your personal promises, it is advisable to have them written on prompt cards rather than repeat them after the Registrar. Can we have readings at our ceremony? We have a wide selection of suitable readings in our ceremony brochures. If you wish to choose a reading from elsewhere or to have one especially written for you, the Registrar will need to approve it first. Remember, you can not have a reading with any religious content. What do we do about music for our ceremony? You can have live or recorded music. If your ceremony is at a register office, there will be a music system with Bluetooth and a CD player. If your music is on CD, the registrars will play it for you (please make sure it is clearly marked with what you want played). If it is on your own device, one of your guests will need to play the music for you. You can not have religious music but that leaves you plenty of choice from classical wedding music to popular songs. You will need to check with your approved venue what facilities they will have available to you for your music. How do we sign the schedule document? The Registrar will ask you to check all the details on the marriage schedule and then sign your ‘usual signature’ using the names that the ceremony was conducted in. Who can we have as our witnesses? You may choose relatives or friends as long as they understand English and understand the nature and purpose of the ceremony. You must have two witnesses. May our guests throw confetti? Please check with your chosen venue as to what restrictions they may have about where confetti can be used. At most of our Register offices we are happy for your guests to use biodegradable confetti outside the offices. At St Albans Register Office only natural dried flower petals are allowed and at Hemel Hempstead Register Office confetti is not allowed at all.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

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Getting married in a church or religious building

If you wish to be married in the Church of England or the Church in Wales, you must contact the vicar. The vicar will arrange for the Banns to be called, or for a common licence to be issued. Unless one or both of you are subject to immigration control or you are asked by the vicar to contact your register office, we would not normally be involved at this stage. If you wish to be married in a church or building of any other denomination, you will need to give notice of marriage in the district where you live. • If you are both British, Irish or an EEA citizen with EUSS granted or applied for before 30 June 2021 , you must give your notice in the district where you have lived for a minimum of seven clear days before giving notice. • If one or both of you are non-EEA or EEA nationals without EUSS status then you must book a double appointment in the district where one of you has lived for a minimum of seven clear days before giving notice.

If you do not live in the district where the place of worship is located then you must confirm that this is your usual place of worship and have the permission from the incumbent of the church. In the first instance, you should check with the church or place of worship you wish to marry in to see if they are available for the date you are considering and to confirm what is required, and also if a Registrar needs to be booked to attend the ceremony. After your ceremony your marriage document or marriage schedule will be sent to our Registration Certificate Archive to be entered onto the electronic register. You can then apply for your marriage certificates at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. Your order will be processed within four working days and posted first class. You will not be able to obtain a marriage certificate on the day of your ceremony. Please note, the certificate will have the names that you used to contract your marriage and not your new married names.

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Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

Weddings abroad If you wish to marry abroad, according to the laws of that country, you must find out and follow the regulations set by that country. Some countries have a minimum residency requirement and this time should be built into the overall length of your stay. You will need to produce certain documents; your travel agent or wedding planner will be able to tell you exactly which ones are required. In some cases you will be asked for a certificate of no impediment. This can be obtained by giving notice to your local register office and you must give a minimum of 28 clear days notice before the certificate can be issued. Although there is no expiry date printed on these authorities, different countries have their own rules and the certificate may only be valid for a three-month period from the date of giving notice. You will also need to provide the Registrar with the name of the town or location where the wedding is to take place, as well as the country. Changes to your passport You can apply for a passport in your new name up to 3 months before your marriage or civil partnership ceremony. Your old passport will be cancelled. Your new passport is ‘post-dated’ – you cannot use it before the ceremony. Some countries will not issue visas for post- dated passports – please check with the country’s embassy or consulate. Application forms can be obtained from the Post Office or online from https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/passports-for- newly-weds-and-civil-partners. Once your notices have been given, the forms can be filled in by the applicant and the Minister of Religion or Registrar who is to conduct the ceremony. The forms should then be sent to the Passport Office together with the

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application for a passport or amendment to a passport.

The name on your passport must match the one you use when you book your travel. This also applies to vaccination certificates so please ensure they match the names on your passport. Please also remember you will no longer receive your marriage or civil partnership certificate on the day of your ceremony.

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Re-registration of your children

If the parents of a child born in England or Wales have entered into a marriage or civil partnership with each other since the birth, it is a legal requirement to re-register the child’s birth. If the child was born elsewhere, the parents should contact the consul for that country to see if re-registration is required. A new birth record will be created showing the child as a child of the parent’s marriage, replacing the original registration, and all future copy birth certificates will be issued from this new record.

If you have any children between you, please ask the Registrar for further information.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars

Changing your name after marriage or civil partnership Although there is no legal requirement to change your name after marriage or civil partnership, many people wish to do so. Most organisations are happy to accept a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate in order to change your name, provided that you are changing to your partner’s surname as shown on the certificate. However, if you decide to ‘double-barrel’ your names or merge the two names together some organisations will require a Change of Name Deed. You will need to check with each individual organisation what their requirements are. Hertfordshire Registration Service provide a Change of Name Deed Service. For more information about this please visit www. hertfordshire.gov.uk/registrars. The sort of organisations that you may need to contact are: • Banks and building societies • Benefits Agency (Department for Work and Pensions) • Children’s school or child care provider • Council tax office • Credit card companies • Dentist • Doctor and hospital

• Driving licence and vehicle registration DVLA • Employer • Finance and loan companies • Inland Revenue • Insurance companies (car, medical, property, home contents and life) • Internet services provider • Library • Loyalty cards • Mail order companies • Mortgage provider • Motor insurance and breakdown associations • Opticians • Passport (please see page 49 for details) • Pension provider • Premium bonds • Professional institutes and trade unions • Rental companies • Satellite or cable television company • Savings and investments – ISAs and shares • Sports and social clubs • Store cards • Telephone supplier • Utilities (electricity, gas, water) If you require further copies of your marriage or civil partnership certificate, they can be obtained at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ registrars.

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Your ceremony in Hertfordshire

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