A civil ceremony is a non-religious, legally binding marriage or partnership conducted by a government official (registrar) at a register office or licensed venue.
The ceremony focuses on secular vows, readings and music, making it a legally recognised union without religious content.
Witnesses for your ceremony
You are required by law to provide two witnesses for your marriage or civil partnership. These may be:
- relatives
- friends
- colleagues
Your witnesses must be able to understand and speak English and understand the meaning of the ceremony. Afterwards they will be asked to sign the schedule. Bring your own translator if you need help at the notice-taking stage of the ceremony.
Choosing your venue
You can have a civil ceremony at:
- a register office
- any venue approved by the local council, for example a stately home or hotel
Wherever you live, you may choose to get married or form your civil partnership in any licensed venue in England and Wales. You can find a list of approved premises list for civil marriages and partnerships on GOV.UK.