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Information for Couples Marrying in Approved Premises in Cheshire

These guidance notes are for couples who live in England and Wales and intend to marry, by civil ceremony, in approved premises in Cheshire. More detailed information about the legal preliminaries to marriage is available from any register office, and couples are advised to seek advice from a superintendent registrar if they are unsure about any of the information shown below.

1. Booking the Registrars

As soon as a couple have made provisional arrangements for a marriage to take place in approved premises, they should contact the superintendent registrar of the district in which the premises are situated. On the day of the marriage it will be necessary for two registrars to attend, one to conduct the ceremony and the other to register the marriage.

Registrars will attend marriages in approved premises from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Saturday, subject to availability.

It is possible to book registrars up to 12 months in advance, and couples are advised to contact the appropriate register office as soon as possible. The marriage cannot take place without the presence of the registrars.

2. The Notice of Marriage

Although it is not necessary for the couple to reside in the district where they intend to marry, they are required to give legal Notice of their intention to marry. This must be done by the bride or groom at their local register office(s). The two different types of Notice shown below are both valid for three months.

By Certificate

Notice must be given to the superintendent registrar of the district in which the bride and groom have resided for at least the previous seven days. A minimum of 21 days must elapse between the giving of the Notice and the day of the marriage. If the couple live in different districts, Notice must be given to the superintendent registrar of each district.

By Licence

This is a more expensive procedure. Only one Notice is required, even if the couple live in different districts. The Notice should be given to the superintendent registrar of the district in which either of the bride and groom have resided for the previous 15 days. A minimum of one clear working day must elapse between the Notice and the date of the marriage.

3. The Marriage Ceremony

The content of the marriage ceremony must be approved in advance by the superintendent registrar who will be attending on the day. Please note that by law, only a civil ceremony is permitted: any music, reading, works or performance that form part of the ceremony must be secular in nature.

The superintendent registrar will be happy to offer advice and guidance to couples who wish to personalise or enhance their marriage ceremony.

4. Fees

The fee for the attendance of the registrars on the day of the marriage will normally be payable at least three weeks in advance. All approval holders will be notified of any changes to these fees.

Registration Districts

There are six registration districts in Cheshire. The contact details of the main offices are given below:

Chester and Ellesmere Port

The Register Office
Tel: 01244 602668

South Cheshire

The Register Office
Tel: 01270 505106

Halton

The Register Office
Tel: 01928 576797

Macclesfield

The Register Office
Tel: 01625 423463

Vale Royal

The Register Office
Tel: 01606 815035

Warrington

The Register Office
Tel: 01925 444212