to think giving notice of marriage...

[KentMum2008]

...shouldn't take more than an hour?

Posting here for traffic really. DP and I are off to the register office to give our notices tomorrow, yay! First marriage for both of us so not sure what to expect. My friend says her and her husband were both interviewed in separate rooms. I thought they only did that if you're not a U.K. citizen?
We've got all our documents etc, appt is at 2 and I really want to be back in time to pick DCs up from school. It's rare DP and I get the chance to pick them up together because of work, and they love it when we do probably because DP insists we go for milkshakes after

RO is a 35 minute drive away. AIBU to think we can give our notices and be back in time for 3:15 pick up? I've got someone on standby in case we're not back.

Also, I appreciate this isn't really a big life issue, but what is AIBU for if not for minor everyday dramas?

Married in n.i last month. Dh and I were together the whole time and didn't need an appointment either, just office times so it might differ from region. We had to state both our parents occupations.

I'm pretty sure DH and I were seen together, 5 years ago in London -- two Irish citizens. We were both vaguely disappointed not to be asked questions about face cream or toothbrush colours.

DW and I gave notice in a London borough last year and were asked no questions at all, nor were we interviewed separately. Just handed over our ID documents and confirmed the wedding date.

I wonder whether the assumption was that if we were a false marriage, or a forced marriage, we would do something less conspicuous than have a lesbian wedding?!

@BackforGood DH and I married at Church but had to attend the local registry office to get the certificates ready (give the details like names, dob, witnesses, dad's occupations etc) to be signed at the Church and then returned to the registry office. Or at least I think that's the order it went in? My head was all over the place before the wedding and the entire month was a blur! But yeah, church service as well as a trip to the registry offices.

I had no idea this was a thing in England how interesting.
Scottish

We got married 13 years ago and did have separate interviews. I don't remember what we were asked except which version of vows we wanted. I went first and chose only for DH to come out and say 'the registrar said you chose the ones for people who don't speak English, so we need to pick again'. Quite why she waited until seeing DH to point that out I don't know.

When did this start if you are both uk citizens?

I am sure we didn't have to do this, we were married in my parish church many many years ago so could have forgotten

We had separate rooms, no interrogation, though DH is forrin. Got asked what his degree is in, I think.

In England btw

We never did this. Just met with the vicar once to decide order of service etc

I guess it differs depending on which are you give notice in and which registrar you have. It doesn't seem to be an across the board type thing.
Anyway, my friend is on standby for school pick up and DP has been thoroughly coached on what my DOB is. He'll forget by tomorrow no doubt.

On another note, I hate that they'll ask about my dad. He died just over a year ago and my heart is breaking still, especially knowing he won't be there to watch me marry the man I love. It's the main reason we chose a quiet, 8 guests only, registry office wedding. Because the thought of walking down the aisle of our church, with anyone else other than my darling dad is just too much.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
They will ask about him again on your wedding day, to put his details on your certificate and in the register (just so you can prepare yourself a little).

Thanks Perspicacia I'll probably be a sobbing wreck on the day anyway, so a few extra tears won't be the worst. I've had a little charm made with my dad's photo on, to attach to my bouquet. I used to think things like that were cheesy, now look at me

We got married in a church 5 years ago and never had to do this. Saw the vicar, answered a few basic questions together (parents occupations, our occupations etc.) and that was it. Went back to hear our banns being read then got married.

No interviews took place nor did we have to go to a registry office

Church weddings are very different, the vicar is a registrar (as long as it's a CofE church) so you won't ever have to go to the RO

I forget the questions but DH and I got interviewed separately 7 years ago. We also got asked separately just before the ceremony if we wanted to go ahead.

We got married two years ago. Both British citizens since birth and not interviewed separately. All they asked was date of marriage, place of marriage, our personal info (address and dob) our occupation, our respective Dad's ages, sons and professions and that was it. Took about 20 minutes.

I don't remember much about the RO trip beforehand, but ON the day of my wedding, I arrive at the hotel and 2 registrars took me into a side room (packed high with spare chairs, I seem to remember!) and gave me a quick interview (I think i got 100% - I'm a bit Monica in those situations...!) but I did have a bit of that 'oh, I must be in trouble because there's someone official interviewing me" moments, just before I walked down the red carpet with guests sitting there waiting... Both British and about 13 years ago...

Both British and first time marriage here, got married last year.

Registry office appointment took about 20 minutes. Interviewed separately (5 min each) then together to briefly discuss ceremony options. All straight forward.

They asked basic stuff like DOB and occupations, nothing complicated.

Can't see how it would take longer than half an hour unless someone couldn't answer questions or it appeared that something wasn't quieter right!

If you want complicated try getting an Archbishop's Special Licence when marrying a divorced person.

I didn't have to show any ID but I did have to swear on a Bible that we were who we said we were and I'm sure no-one's ever lied doing that...

In 2000, we were interviewed together for about 10 minutes. It sounds like things have changed a lot since then - we were just asked about ourselves if I remember correctly. No quiz on in laws or dates of birth.

DH was 10 minutes. He saw one in area we were getting married.

Mine was about an hour.

I was moving up to where he was - so in different area - he'd just moved for work and I was somewhere else giving notice and packing up a flat.

My registrar seemed to think she was "Do you want to be a millionaire" - is that your final answer are you sure for every question.

I knew all DH information and had all correct documents with me - but didn't know FIL middle name or date of birth so she insisted I had to ring DH up. I had to pull him out of an important meeting. I think she wanted me to ring him in front of her form minute I walked in room and was looking for an excuse.

We were both British citizens - born and bred - and have met no-one else question like that even friends getting married where one was born abroad.

As soon as I spoke to him she was fine.

So if you want to pull off a sham marriage, seems like the Church of England would be the ideal place then.

I think they tell people to allow longer that usually necessary so the interviewer can take their time and not be told to hurry up because they have another appointment. Or perhaps they are required to type up reports between interviews and hour long sessions allow people to be seen at the correct time. In the event we took about 30mins each.

Where we had our interviews the walls were so thin we could hear all of each other's conversation going on, which I think defeated the aim of trying to catch out fraudsters. I was expecting DH to shout out his details from the adjoining room when I had to remember his place of birth, etc.

Btw, well done for getting Register Office right, OP.