Marriage and civil partnership
You are engaged to be married or civil partners, congratulations! We are here to help you plan for the perfect day.
Guide to planning and booking your ceremony
Marriage ceremonies
A civil marriage is a non-religious ceremony that can take place in any licensed venue. 2 registrars will attend your ceremony; 1 conducts the ceremony and the other registers the marriage.
Our dedicated and experienced registrar team will ensure your marriage ceremony is just as you want it. Whether you are planning a small gathering, larger celebration or an intimate event, we can customise your marriage ceremony to your taste.
Statutory ceremonies
This is a brief basic ceremony using only the minimal legal wording. There is no scope for any additional readings or personal vows.
These ceremonies are shorter than other ceremonies and are only available on Monday mornings at 9.15am
There is a fee of £56 for the ceremony and when giving notice you will need to state the venue is Barnet Register Office.
Religious ceremonies
A religious wedding can take place at a church, chapel or other registered religious building.
Most religious venues have an authorised person to perform the ceremony. Please check with the venue. If they do not have an authorised person, you will need to book for our registrars to attend.
Civil partnerships
In a civil partnership, it is the signing of the documentation (known as the schedule) that forms the partnership.
You can sign the schedule in front of two qualified witnesses. Or you can combine the combine the signing with a full ceremony.
Note that a civil partnership:
- gives you a legal certificate
- is not recognised in all countries
- cannot be changed to a marriage later if you are an opposite sex couple, so you need to be sure of your decision
You can have your marriage or civil partnership within licensed venues in Barnet. Hendon Town Hall is a popular choice.
You must both give notice before you can get married or form a civil partnership.
A notice of marriage or civil partnership is a legal statement that you must both sign. It gives details of your:
- names
- ages
- addresses
- occupations
- nationalities.
- and where you will get married
You can only give notice if you are both 18 years or older and have lived in Barnet for at least the past 8 days.
If you and your partner live in different areas, you will separately need to give notice to the register office where you live. You do not have to do this on the same day.
Your notice appointment
Make your notice appointment with us when you've booked your ceremony venue.
Your notice appointment must be at least 29 days before your ceremony. This may be extended to 70 days if you have a Government Home Office referral.
Once you've given notice you must get married or register your civil partnership within 12 months.
To give notice you will need to bring proof of your:
- name
- age
- nationality
We must display your notice in public, at the register office for 28 days before your ceremony.
The fee for completing a notice of marriage or civil partnership is £42 per person. Or £57 per person if you do not have the right to live in the UK.
Most register offices or licenced venues will accept a booking up to 12 months in advance of your wedding or civil partnership.
We charge a non-refundable booking fee of £100 to book a ceremony date and time. The booking fee forms part of the full ceremony fee you will pay.
Ceremony at Hendon Town Hall
You should contact us to check availability.
Fees include the cost of the room and the registrars.
Heritage room
Space for up to 45 guests
- Monday to Thursday before 4 pm: £249
- Friday before 4 pm: £289
- Saturday before 4 pm: £350
- Sunday before 1 pm: £489
Committee room 1 and 2 and the Council Chamber
Space for up to 100 guests
- Monday to Thursday before 4 pm: £309
- Friday before 4 pm: £309
- Saturday before 4 pm: £385
- Sunday before 1 pm: £519
Ceremony at another licensed Barnet venue
You should contact the venue to check availability.
You will also need to contact us to book and pay for a Superintendent Registrar to conduct the ceremony and a Registrar.
Fees for registrars to attend your ceremony at a licensed venue:
- Monday to Friday before 4 pm: £529
- Saturday before 4 pm: £579
- Sunday before 4 pm: £679
A wedding in a registered building such as a Church, Mosque or Synagogue that doesn't have an Approved Person or Secretary for Marriages is £104.
Book a registrar
You can call us on 020 8359 6400 to book a registrar.
You can have a ceremony that is as unique as you.
Civil ceremonies can have many options but must not include anything religious, such as hymns or readings from a holy book.
Once you have booked your ceremony you can make your choices and:
Complete your ceremony planner
Be sure to submit it at least 14 days before your ceremony.
Ceremony scripts
When getting married or forming a civil partnership you must exchange some formal legal wording.
We have ceremony scripts you can choose from. Some words in each of the scripts are legal and must be used.
Let us know which ceremony script you have chosen on your ceremony planner.
Readings
You are welcome to add up to 2 short readings into your ceremony.
These must not include anything religious such as hymns or readings from a holy book.
Send us these readings on the ceremony planner at least 14 days before your ceremony.
Personal vows
You are welcome to add personal vows into your ceremony but these must be non-religious.
Let us know on the ceremony planner if you want to have personal vows.
Music
You are welcome to have music in your ceremony but this should not be hymns or contain religious themes.
We can play music while:
- waiting for the ceremony to begin
- signing the register
- closing the ceremony.
This can be either live or recorded. Your recorded music must be on a bluetooth device.
On the day of your marriage or civil partnership ceremony, just before your ceremony our registrar will take you to check the information on the marriage or civil partnership schedule, to make sure the details about you are correct and up to date.
The registrar will then invite your guests into the ceremony room and the Superintendent Registrar will conduct your ceremony.
