Making arrangements

You can make a provisional booking for your Essex Register Office wedding up to twelve months in advance. Just call or write to the office of your choice, and give as much notice as possible to avoid disappointment.

To arrange a wedding at an 'approved premises', you must first contact the venue to make provisional arrangements and then you must contact the Registration Office of the district in which the premises are located to ensure the Registrars can attend your wedding on the date and time of your choice.

There is an additional fee for getting married at 'approved premises'. see Fees and Documents

Personalising your wedding

The ceremony can be simple or formal and can be tailored to your individual wishes.

The bride and groom may choose to be interviewed separately, allowing the bride to enter the room escorted by a friend or relative. You can also incorporate your own choice of reading, which can be read a guest. Each office has a selection of popular readings and music or you may provide your own.  Please discuss your choice of reading or music and any other special requirements with the Superintendent Registrar in advance of the ceremony.

It is important to remember that a marriage in a Register Office or 'approved premises' exists for Civil Weddings only and does not include any type of religious ceremony.

Advice from Essex Registration Service

The staff of the Essex Registration Service pride themselves on making each wedding a unique experience to treasure. Give them a call and talk about the ceremony, your music and flowers, the photography, or go and see for yourself. You will find the staff friendly and approachable and they'll do their best to make your wedding day relaxed and enjoyable for everyone.

Arrival

You and your guests should aim to arrive a minimum of ten minutes before the time of your marriage. This allows for you and your partner to be interviewed and for your guests to be seated. On arrival you will be greeted by the Registrar who will interview the bride and groom privately to confirm details

Parking

The amount of parking varies at each location, although most locations have nearby public parking as well.

Witnesses

You need to provide two people to act as witnesses for your wedding and sign the register afterwards. The witnesses can be friends or family who must be able to speak and understand English.

The Ceremony

The ceremony will begin with a short introduction by the Superintendent Registrar. The bride and groom will then be asked, in turn, to repeat a number of lines of solemn declarations. If you would like to make additional vows and commitments to each other beyond the legally required ones, we will be happy to discuss this with you. The Superintendent Registrar will then state that the parties have made the declarations required by law and are now husband and wife together. The formal signing of the register will then take place, concluding the ceremony.

Flowers

All Register Office marriage rooms are decorated with silk and dried flower arrangements. You may, however. wish to make your own floral arrangements. Please discuss any special requirements with the Superintendent Registrar in advance of the ceremony.

Music

All of the marriage rooms have CD players with a selection of suitable music. If you have a favourite or meaningful piece of music you would like to include, please discuss your choice with the Superintendent Registrar in advance of the ceremony.

Recording / Photography

A wedding album is a very special memento. A video camera may be used during the ceremony with the approval of the Superintendent Registrar. Although flash photography is not permitted during the actual ceremony, there will be time for photographs in the marriage room after the ceremony.

Confetti

Confetti is a familiar part if any wedding, but please ask your guests not to throw confetti inside the building!

Fees

Attendance fees for marriage ceremonies at 'approved premises' are payable to the Superintendent Registrar in advance of the wedding. Fees for register office marriages are payable on the day of the ceremony to the Registrar. see Fees and Documents