How to arrange a civil partnership

 A civil partnership is formed once the couple have signed the Civil Partnership Schedule in the presence of two witnesses and the Civil Partnership registrar.

Although a ceremony is not part of the legal requirement, Manchester Register Office will continue to offer the ceremony in which the legal signing will be included.

Where can these ceremonies be held?

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 or civil partners.

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).

The Pankhurst Suite is very popular as a 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 time and venue for your ceremony has been fixed.

Can we have a ceremony anywhere else in Manchester?

It is possible to hold the ceremony in a range of selected venues which have been approved by Manchester City Council. Any premise currently approved for marriage are deemed to also be approved for the purposes of civil partnership formation.

See our list of ceremony venues.

How long will the ceremony be?

The length of the ceremony will be dependent upon the choices you have made and any readings you have included, creating a unique occasion for you and your guests to remember, so no two ceremonies are the same.