A step-by-step guide to booking your ceremony
Follow our step-by-step guide to getting married or forming a civil partnership in Gloucestershire.
Step 1 - Think about the type of ceremony
Your first decision is whether you would like a marriage or a civil partnership, and what type of ceremony you want to book.
Civil Partnerships in Gloucestershire
Similarities and Differences between Civil Partnership and Marriage
Step 2 - Choose your venue.
You will need to decide where you want to have your ceremony. Once you have contacted your venue, you can speak to a member of our friendly team, on 01452 425060 (option 3) and we will be happy to make a ceremony booking for you. Our lines are open Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm
For ideas of where you can book, please see our list of approved venues
Step 3 - Login to your Ceremony Account
When you book your ceremony with us, you will be emailed with sign in details to your Ceremony Account.
Use this account portal to:
- Pay fees
- Book your notice appointment (if you live in Gloucestershire)
- Choose your vows and readings
- Tell us about your ceremony arrangements.
Step 4 - Give notice
This step is a legal requirement and very important. Please make sure you call us on 01452 425060 (option 3) if you are unsure about the documents required.
Giving notice of your intent to marry is a legal requirement that must be given in person by both of you. There is a statutory charge of £42 per person to attend this appointment.
Giving Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership
Step 5 - Personalise your ceremony
Create the script used for your ceremony by choosing your own ring vows, promises or readings.
This is done via your ceremony account:
- Provide your ceremony choices part 1 – this is where you can choose the vows you want to say to each other.
- Provide your ceremony choices part 2: this is where you let us know about your ceremony arrangements: The wording for your readings, own vows or promises, the names of your witnesses, how many guests you are inviting and how you would like to be announced at the end of the ceremony etc
Once you have completed both Choices forms via the Ceremony Account, you can ‘lock’ and submit your selections.
If you would like to make changes, this can be done by email to ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk or phone on 01452 425060 up to 3 months in advance of your ceremony date.
Step 6 - Your 'good-to-go' email
Once you have given notice, paid your fees and submitted your ceremony choices, we will email (approx. 3 weeks before) you to let you know we have everything we need for your special day.
Step 7 - Receiving your certificate
Following the ceremony, your certificates will be posted to you within 5 - 10 working days.
If you need to provide proof of your marriage for your honeymoon we can provide a marriage acknowledgement letter, please request this from the ceremony team.