Planning a marriage or civil partnership involves a few important steps, from choosing the venue to planning the day itself.
Marriages or civil partnerships in our ceremony rooms
If you are planning a marriage or civil partnership in one of our ceremony rooms, you will need to first choose your ceremony room:
- Bournemouth Civic Centre: Register Office, Laurels, Willows or Council Chamber
- Poole Guildhall: ceremony room
You can then check the ceremony fees and choose your date and submit an enquiry.
Marriages or civil partnerships in other venues licensed by us
If you are planning a marriage or civil partnership in a licensed venue, you will need to (in order):
- decide where you would like to marry or form your civil partnership
- provisionally book a date with your venue
- request your registrars for your ceremony
- confirm your booking with your venue (once your registrars have been confirmed)
- give (serve) notice of marriage or civil partnership
Planning the day
Our ceremony guide will help you with everything you need to know to help plan and your perfect day.
Difference between civil marriage and civil partnership
Civil marriage is a verbal contract. You will repeat legal declarations in front of your registrar and witnesses.
Civil partnership is a written contract. You will read a legal declaration before signing your civil partnership schedule. A civil partnership does not legally involve a ceremony but your registrar will be happy to conduct one for you if you so wish.
Choose the type of ceremony
You can choose to have either a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony if you’re getting married.
If you’re forming a civil partnership you cannot have a religious ceremony.
Religious ceremonies
A religious wedding can take place at any registered religious building.
Same-sex couples can get married in a religious building if it has been registered for the marriage of same-sex couples. You cannot get married in an Anglican church as a same-sex couple.
An authorised person, such as a religious minister, must attend the ceremony and sign the ‘marriage schedule’ or ‘marriage document’.
Check with the venue if there is an authorised person. If not, you’ll need to book a registrar.
Civil ceremonies
You can have a civil ceremony at:
- a register office
- our ceremony rooms, Bournemouth Civic Centre and Poole Guildhall
- any licensed venue approved by us, for example a stately home, castle or hotel
You must:
- have at least 2 witnesses at the ceremony
- book a registrar for your ceremony
After a marriage or civil partnership
Your marriage or civil partnership will be registered on the official electronic register and your certificate will be posted to you, unless otherwise instructed.
Religious marriages
Your signed schedule or marriage document will be returned to us where it will be registered on the official electronic register, you will then be able to order and pay for certificates online.