Giving notice and arranging a marriage ceremony
Notice of marriage
By law you have to give a notice of marriage, which is a formal declaration of your intention to marry. You are both required to give a notice of marriage and there is a standard fee for this. If you live in Manchester you must give notice to the Manchester Registration Service. If either or both of you live in another district, then you must give your notice(s) at your local register office(s) (unless advised otherwise for example, if either of you is a non-EEA National - see below).
Prior to giving notice you must have lived in the district where you are giving notice for a minimum of 7 clear days.
Please note that the marriage can only take place at the venue you name on the notice of marriage. If you were to change the venue it would be necessary to give, and pay for, fresh notices of marriage.
To make an appointment to give a notice of marriage at Manchester Register Office, you can:
- make an appointment online.
- telephone us on 0161 234 5005 (please note that this is a very busy line. If you have difficulty getting through, you can send us an email with your daytime telephone number and we will phone you back as soon as we can)
Non-European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals
If either you or your partner are subject to immigration control, you must both give notice, together, at a Designated Register Office. Manchester Register Office has been given the status of Designated Register Office by the Home Office.
A full list of Designated Register Offices in England and Wales can be found on the Gov.uk website.
Prior to giving notice you must have lived in a district within England or Wales for a minimum of 7 clear days.
How much notice do we need to give?
You cannot give a notice of marriage more than 12 months before the date of marriage. A marriage cannot take place until 16 days after you have given the notice.
What do we need to produce?
You will need to make an appointment online, by phone or by calling in to the office.
At your appointment you will need to bring:
-
The current fee (see fees information below)
-
Evidence of nationality - A valid passport
If you do not have a valid passport please contact the Register Office for advice.
-
If you have previously been married or in a Civil Partnership in this or any other country and it ended in divorce, dissolution or annulment you will be required to produce the original court document. If in this country you will require the decree absolute, dissolution certificate or annulment all of which can be obtained from the court where the divorce, dissolution or annulment was granted. If your divorce, dissolution or annulment was in a different country you will need to produce the original document from the court and full translation if applicable.
-
If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner you will need to provide the death certificate of your former husband, wife or civil partner. If you are not mentioned on the death certificate as the widow, widower or surviving civil partner you will also need to produce your marriage or civil partnership certificate.
-
If you have changed your name by deed poll or statutory declaration you will need to provide those documents.
-
Proof of current address, this can be a utility bill, bank statement or driving licence.
Please note: All documentation must be original. We cannot accept photocopied documentation.
Ceremonies at the Manchester Register Office.
Ceremonies at the Manchester Register Office are held in the Pankhurst Suite.
Within the Pankhurst Suite is a large ceremony room which can accommodate up to seventy guests, a large waiting area for guests and a small private waiting room especially for the use of the bride and groom.
For those wanting a basic ceremony, with just two witnesses and no guests, there are some times during the week when the Pankhurst Suite can be booked at a lower fee, but availability is limited (see Standard Ceremony fees information below).
The Pankhurst Suite is very popular as a marriage venue, particularly in the busy summer months. In view of this you can provisionally book, your ceremony in the Pankhurst Suite, up to 24 months before it is due to take place. This will allow you to go ahead and make your other arrangements knowing that the time and venue for your ceremony has been fixed.
What will the ceremony be like?
The Superintendent Registrar will begin by welcoming you and your guests followed by the traditional marriage ceremony introduction.
If you have chosen to have the Standard Ceremony, at the standard ceremony fee (see below), then the rest of the ceremony will be the basic standard ceremony with no readings or music. If you want to know more about the content of the standard ceremony, please contact us.
If you have chosen to have a more expensive ceremony, in the Pankhurst Suite or at an approved premises, then you will be able to design the ceremony, using a booklet we provide to you which explains the possible choices. There are certain words, which must be included by law, (the Declaration and the Contract) but even here there is an element of choice. You can lengthen the ceremony further by using readings or poetry, but these must not have any religious content.
Music can be played during the bride's entrance and during the signing of the register. You may bring your own CDs or choose from our music list.
Again, music cannot be religious in nature.
Can I have a civil marriage anywhere else in Manchester?
It is possible to marry in any approved venue in England and Wales. Civil weddings may now take place in hotels, banqueting suites, stately homes and other places which have been licensed by the local authority.
Please note that the marriage can only take place at the venue you name on the notice of marriage. If you were to change the venue it would be necessary to give, and pay for, fresh notices of marriage.
To see a list of approved premises for the City of Manchester, take a look at our list of licensed venues.
Please contact the office, or call in to receive a copy of our full colour brochure. This gives details and photographs of the office accommodation as well as the alternative approved venues in Manchester. The brochure provides helpful advice and information about official requirements.
If you choose to marry in a licensed venue you will need to book a registrar to attend. This can be done up to two years in advance of the ceremony.
Fees
- Notice of Intention to Marry: £70 (£35.00 per person)
- The Pankhurst Suite
Standard Ceremony
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday £49.00
(Limited availability)
Bride and Groom + 2 witnesses only. This is a basic ceremony.
Enhanced Ceremony
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday £105.50
Friday and Saturday £137.00
The Pankhurst Suite holds up to 70 guests, and the ceremony can be enhanced by readings or music (optional)
- At licensed venues in Manchester - fee for registrars to attend:
Monday - Thursday £285.50 daytime until 4.00pm Evening - 6pm and 7pm £336.00
Friday and Saturday £336.00 daytime until 4.30pm Evening - 6pm and 7pm £397.00
Sundays and Bank Holidays £397.00 daytime until 4.30pm Evening not available
All prices include the cost of one marriage certificate. These are reviewed annually in April.