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Register Offices

If you don’t plan a religious ceremony, there are two types of venue for civil marriages and partnership ceremonies: a register office or an approved venue licensed for the purpose.
Although you may not incorporate any religious content into a civil marriage ceremony, most registrars are happy to include individual touches provided they can have sight of your choices of readings and music beforehand, so they can ensure they comply with the law.
Register office weddings are typically easy, intimate and inexpensive and, while in the past the ambience might have left a little to be desired, nowadays register office marriage rooms are smart and comfortable.
They will usually have a display of fresh flowers in season and the facility to play music.

 

Read more...

On the day...

Before the ceremony

Guests should arrive around 20 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin. They will be shown to a waiting room before being invited into the marriage room at the appropriate time. Both bride and groom should arrive at the wedding venue 15 minutes before the ceremony, so the registrar can finally confirm the information to be recorded on the register, collect any fees which are still owing and check all the details of your ceremony. Bride and groom can be interviewed either together or separately, if they don’t want to see each other before the wedding. Whatever you do, don’t be fashionably late! While your registrars will make every effort to accommodate a late arrival, they may be committed to other appointments – especially on Saturdays, so do allow for traffic problems and unforeseen hold-ups.

Arrival of the bride

The bride can be escorted into the marriage room to processional music by her father or family friend or the couple can enter together. It is perfectly acceptable to have bridesmaids and attendants if you wish, though if you’re marrying in a register office, bear in mind the restrictions on space.

The ceremony

The registrar will begin by welcoming everyone and explaining what will happen during the ceremony, reminding you of the solemn and binding nature of the vows you are about to make. The couple will then be asked to declare their intention to marry, make their vows to each other and exchange rings if they decide to do so. While there are strict legal constraints on the declarations and contracting words you must say, you may also write your own promises to each other, which you can ask the registrar to lead you through on the day.

Signing the register

In the final part of the ceremony, the registrar will oversee the signing of the marriage register by the bride and groom and two adult witnesses. At every part of the proceedings, the registrar will explain what is happening and lead the couple through their responses.

 

HELSTON

The Willows, Church Street, Helston TR13 8NJ.
Tel: 01326 562848

TORBAY

Oldway, Paignton TQ3 2TU.
Tel: 01803 386880/1

BUDE

Parkhouse Centre, Bude EX23 8LD.
Tel: 01288 353209

CAMBORNE

Roskear, Camborne TR14 8DN.
Tel: 01209 612924

TEIGNBRIDGE (Newton Abbot).

15 Devon Square, Newton Abbot TQ12 2HN
0845 155 1002

EAST DEVON (Honiton)

Elmfield House, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LZ
0845 155 1002

ST AUSTELL

Council Office, 12 Carlyon Road, St Austell PL25 4LD.
Tel: 01726 68974

EXMOUTH

Town Hall, St Andrews Road, Exmouth
0845 155 1002

NORTH DEVON (Barnstaple)

Civic Centre, Barnstaple EX31 1ED
0845 155 1002

LAUNCESTON

Hendra, Dunheved Road, Launceston PL15 9JG.
Tel: 01566 772464

SOUTH HAMS

Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes TQ9 5NE
0845 155 1002

SOUTH HAMS

Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes TQ9 5NE.
Tel: 01803 861234

MID DEVON

The Great House, 1 St Peter Street, Tiverton EX16 6NY
0845 155 1002

LISKEARD

Graylands, Dean Street, Liskeard PL14 4AH.
Tel: 01579 343442

EXETER

Castle Street, Exeter
0845 155 1002

BODMIN

Lyndhurst, St Nicholas Street, Bodmin PL31 1AG.
Tel: 01208 73677

TRURO

Dalvenie House, New County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY.
Tel: 01872 322241

PENZANCE

Alphington House, Alverton Place, Penzance TR18 4JJ.
Tel: 01736 330093

PLYMOUTH

Lockyer Street, Plymouth PL1 2QD.
Tel: 01752 268331

WEST DEVON (Tavistock)

Town Council Offices, Drake Road, Tavistock PL9 0A
0845 155 1002

FALMOUTH

Berkeley House, 12-14 Berkeley Vale, Falmouth TR11 3PH.
Tel: 01326 312606

SALTASH

PlougasTel Drive, SALTASH PL12 6DL.
Tel: 01752 842624