How to do the ‘Legal Stuff’ & Enjoy a Celebrant Led Wedding?

Step One

Find your dream wedding location and book your venue.  

Step Two

Research and book your Celebrant.

Step Three

Register your intent to marry by ‘Giving Notice’ at your local office. Advise that that you have already booked your Celebrant and will just require a simple ‘2+2’ service to complete your paperwork and declarations.   This is then booked in on a date nearer your wedding day.

Step Four

When you attend your legal service, it is worth remembering that you can save your vows and your ring exchanges, along with all other personal details for your Celebrant-led ceremony.  It is not a legal requirement.

You will be required to take two witnesses and choose one from each of the following legal statements:

Declaratory Words

“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, AB, may not be joined in matrimony to CD.”

or “I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, AB, may not be joined in marriage to CD.”

Or By replying “I am” to the question “Are you AB free lawfully to marry CD?” …

Contractual Vows

“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, AB, do take thee, CD, to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).”

or “I AB take you CD to be my wedded wife (or husband)”

or “I AB take thee CD to be my wedded wife (or husband)” …

The current Standard UK Fees Notice of Marriage are £35 per person which are payable to the registration service in which both parties live. You will also need to book the Statutory Ceremony which is £46 (plus £11 for your marriage certificate).

You are then free to hold your ceremony wherever and whenever you like!  On a beach, in beautiful woodlands, castles, stately homes, on working farms, in rustic barns, at lakeside settings.  The sky is the limit !

Step Five

Now that your venue is booked, your Celebrant secured and your intent to marry logged at the registration service, you can set about planning your big day with gusto, and without restrictions!

It really is a simple process and you can enjoy a wonderful day of celebration together – making it exactly what you want it to be.