When do you think registry office weddings will be allowed again?

[plainflower]

Just as the title says really. We would like to get married next month or In July. Do you think registry office weddings will be allowed to go ahead by then? If so, how does it work in terms of giving notice of marriage? Could we do that now? Thanks all x

[plainflower]

Sorry, we're also thinking just us and witnesses!

[RedRed9]

Our (postponed) wedding is a registry office wedding and last I heard from them was about a week ago. They said that they were trying to work out how/when they could rebook and that they’d be in touch when they’ve figured that out.

Once you’ve given notice it stands for 12months. So you could possibly get the ball rolling by booking that in if they’re taking bookings. Although I don’t know if you need a confirmed date and venue to be able to give notice. I’d contact your local council and ask.

[Blue2020]

We needed an appointment to see the registrars/member of staff in person (in our local area) to give notice. Once you give notice to marry you have to wait at least 29 days (if it’s U.K./wales, I’m not sure about Scotland/NI,anywhere else). Then like Redred9 said the notice lasts up to 12 months.

[Inoneminute]

Is it not possible to get married at all atm? Even with few/no guests? How times have changed, do we never need a shotgun wedding anymore?! Of course I know we don't need them but culturally there must be some people who "need" to be married before baby arrives and it makes a lot of sense from a finance/security pov too.

[Icanflyhigh]

I don't know about register office but church weddings can still take place with a maximum of 5 guests including bride, groom and vicar.

Hence we have postponed from 13th june this year to june next year.

[RedRed9]

@Icanflyhigh no they can’t, where did you get this info from?

Sadly, there can be no weddings in church buildings until further notice.
^ this is from the churchofengland.org website.

You cannot get married or register a civil partnership at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). If you’ve already booked a civil ceremony, contact the register office. This page will be updated when the situation changes.
^ this is from gov.uk

[Farahilda]

There are certain, limited circumstances when the legal contract of marriage can be solemnised - terminal illness has already been specified, and from the HCP wedding that made the news, it looks as if hospital chaplains are back in business.

I expect legal minimum marriage appointments will come soon, esp if they can make emergency provision for them to be held outdoors (if possible - not every registry office will have a garden, and a car park might be a step too far! Would have to be aurthorised locations only so anyone who wants to raise an objection can find the place

[RedRed9]

and a car park might be a step too far!

Not for us. I told them we’d stand outside in the street and they could shout the ceremony at us from the registry office window but they weren’t keen 😂

[Icanflyhigh]

@RedRed9 that was directly from the vicar! He did say a maximum of 5 in church including him though, and this was at the end of March.
We opted to postpone when we knew we wouldn't be able to have our DCs or any family present x

[RedRed9]

At the end of March that was the advice @icanflyhigh But as the situation quickly changed so did the rules and it turned in to what it is now (no weddings however small they may be).

[plainflower]

Thanks all, I was meant to call the registry office today but was so busy with DC I completely forgot didn't even get a chance to. Will do on Monday and see if we can give our notice of marriage ASAP. I have a legal appointment in August and need to have my partner's last name for it. So the sooner the better really!

[mamapants]

Pretty sure you need date and venue to give notice. We did.

[plainflower]

@mamapants ahhh, that could be a problem!

[mamapants]

Yes we had to pay to give notice even though we thought it was pretty likely our wedding wouldn't be going ahead.
I'm hoping they might change the rules regarding giving notice as there will be less certainty.

[PerspicaciaTick]

No Registration district in England or Wales is currently able to take notices of marriage. Even if they could you would need to wait a month after giving notice before you can get married. Many Registration districts have closed their diaries to new bookings while others have cancelled all ceremonies until the autumn or even the end of the year.

[RedRed9]

If it’s literally just for the name then can’t you change it via deed poll?

[plainflower]

Thanks all! Sorry, I worded that completely wrong now that I've read back. We need to be husband and wife. Our situation is just very very confusing. We were due to get married on 16th March with a registry office wedding already booked for that day but the day we were going to give our notice of marriage, something just did not feel right and I had a feeling that it wouldn't happen due to Covid becoming more serious by the day at that point. We should have just done it, lockdown didn't happen until 5 days after that date. We already have everything..the dress, suit, I even had a photographer booked for that day! Aaarrgghhh

[plainflower]

Forgot the rings

[Foxesandcrosses]

Hello,
We were meant to get legally married in April - literally 2 witnesses and the quickest 'ceremony' ...this was pre pandemic.
We have moved this now to mid-june ....seeing as some of the secondary schools may be opening up on the 15th of June we may be lucky to do the legal part.
If not we will reschedule in July - we have until the 24th of July before our notices run out. But we are lucky because we just want to do the legal stuff and no ceremony.

Our registry office sent a ridiculous email yesterday making no sense just saying probably cancel but don't cancel!

[Willowcat77]

@Foxesandcrosses Good luck! We have ours booked for 1 July, also just us and 2 witnesses.

We are still hoping our mini Registry Office wedding will go ahead. Surely social distancing is possible with such a small gathering? In the UK Government's "Roadmap" it said they were looking into small weddings being able to resume in June, so we are anxiously waiting for updates!

[Elizadoeslittle19]

Hi @plainflower in my area every registry office/ approved venue ceremony that has already been booked up to 31st August 2020 has been cancelled automatically.
They are not taking any new bookings at present for the remainder of 2020 and are not doing any appointments for giving notice.
We were due for September, I received an email at the end of last week advising at present they did not know if September weddings would be going ahead and did we want to rearrange. We had already decided to postpone and were just waiting to give the new date to the registrar. During our email correspondence the registrar thought postponing was the right decision. I think its unlikely you will be married by August if you haven't already given notice, although I'm a bit confused by your posts. You said you were due to get married on 16th March, you would have had to have given notice at least one month prior to that ... so in theory as soon as weddings are allowed you could get married if there is any availability and probably with no guests etc.
However, you then follow that with on the day we were due to give notice it didn't feel right and you didnt think it would go ahead due to covid. But your notice appointment would have been mid February at the latest? I don't see how your wedding on 16th March didn't go ahead, I can't remember exactly but was it at this time when you could only have 5 guests and did you cancel to move to a later date?

[Foxesandcrosses]

Willowcat77 thank you - goodluck too!

I'm praying we can get married before the end of july and our legal notices run out.

Good luck everyone!!!

[Sjjr23]

Possibly an announcement this week? Going by the "roadmap", allowing marriages should have started by now (if there was any competency in the govt that is)

[Maybenexttime10]

A lockdown ban on weddings and civil partnerships in Wales will be lifted from Monday - but there will be no big celebrations allowed.
I seen this earlier but of hope for people wanting to have small weddings

[Sjjr23]

Places of worship, yes. Registry offices, no?!