Your wedding day

. . . at Northwood House

Our friendly and professional staff are committed to making your wedding day something special.

Arrival

If you are getting married in the Register Office please arrive with your guests at least ten minutes before the time shown on your appointment card. If you or your guests are late the wedding may have to be postponed to a later date. If you are to be married at one of our approved premises, the Superintendent Registrar and Registrar for marriages will arrive at the venue approximately thirty minutes before the arranged time of the marriage.

The Ceremony

The Registrar will interview the bride and groom in order to check the details which will appear on the marriage certificate. The fee will be collected and the names of the witnesses noted. The guests will be taken to the marriage room by the Superintendent Registrar. If the bride does not wish to see the groom she can be interviewed separately and walked in with, for examples, her father and bridesmaids.

The marriage ceremony will be conducted by the Superintendent Registrar or Deputy Superintendent Registrar. After a brief introduction the ceremony will proceed by the groom and the bride being asked to repeat the following declarations:

Declaratory words
"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I __________ may not be joined in matrimony to ________"

Contracting words
"I call upon this persons here present to witness that I ________ do take thee ________ to be my lawful wedded husband/wife"

A shorter version of these words is now available. Please ask the Superintendent Registrar for more information.

At the end of the ceremony you will be presented with your marriage certificate and there will be an opportunity for your guests to take photographs. The bride and groom will then be asked to lead their guests out of the marriage room. A video recording can be made throughout the ceremony - please speak to the Superintendent Registrar who will be happy to point out suitable places in the marriage room.

Please use confetti and bubbles outside the building.