Marriages

What are the changes to marriage law from May 2021?

Find out how changes to marriage law from 4 May 2021 may affect you:

Marriage in a Civil or Religious Building other than Church of England Wales after 3rd May 2021 (pdf 288kb)

The email address for East Riding Registration Services is: registration.service@eastriding.gov.uk.

COVID-19 Service Information

Email: registration.service@eastriding.gov.uk

The service appreciates the difficult situation faced by couples and venues, locally and nationally during these uncertain times and are doing their best to be as flexible as possible.

Registration and Celebratory Services

Notices of Marriage and Civil Partnership

We able to take notices of marriage/civil partnership for ceremonies which will be taking place within the next 3 months and couples are able to contact the office on (01482) 393600 to make appointments. Notices must be given no later than 30 days prior to the ceremony date, we would respectfully suggest an appointment is made well before this timescale.

We do ask for couples patience and understanding as we again cope with a changing priority for so many of them.

Ceremonies

Please speak to your venue to discuss capacity for your chosen room as this may have changed since you booked your ceremony and may be dependent on any restrictions the venue has put in place to keep their staff and you safe.

Approved Premises

Ceremonies will now revert back to their pre-Covid content which you will have been supplied with at the time of you giving notice of intention to marriage/form a civil partnership. 

Outside Legal Ceremonies (this is a temporary service until April 2022)

Ceremonies outside are now legal. However they are only allowed if your chosen venue has formally contacted the Superintendent Registrar and identified areas where such standard ceremonies can take place and an agreement is undertaken between the venue and the registration services.

The capacity for this type of standard ceremonies would be between couples and the venue but it must be remembered that if the weather is inclement and the ceremony needs to take place inside, only the number of persons stated on the venues licence would be allowed in the licenced room for the standard legal ceremony. No delay to the ceremony start time can be incurred as the registrars have other couples ceremonies then need to attend.

Local Authority Ceremony venues

In order to keep staff and the public as safe as possible the decision has been made by the local authority to reduce the capacity for all our ceremony rooms. The content has reverted to that offered pre-Covid.

Please contact the registrars if you have any query regarding your booking.

The email address for East Riding Registration Services is: registration.service@eastriding.gov.uk.

How do I arrange a wedding ceremony?

To start planning your wedding celebrations, find wedding venues in the East Riding and ceremony costs please visit: www.eastridingceremonies.co.uk (external East Riding website).

Do I have to carry out any legal procedures before a marriage?

Yes, you must give notice of intention to marry 28 clear days before the ceremony. Find out how to do this and what information you will need to bring at:

East Riding Ceremonies (external council website)

Do I have to take my partner’s name when I get married?

There is no legal requirement to take your partner's name after you get married. You can keep your own name if you wish and you do not need to notify anyone of that decision. However, you may take your partner's name or even combine the two.

Who do I have to notify if I decide to change my name?

You only have to notify people or organisations that have an interest in your identity. For example, you will have to notify your employer, your bank, Inland Revenue etc.

What happens if my marriage is to take place in another country?

If you plan to marry in another country, you may be able to give notice in the district where each of you live. It requires 28 clear days waiting period from the date you apply to being granted a certificate of no impediment. For more information please contact your nearest registration office.

What happens if my marriage is to take place in another country?

If you plan to marry in another country, you may be able to give notice in the district where each of you live. It requires 28 clear days waiting period from the date you apply to being granted a certificate of no impediment. For more information please contact your nearest registration office.

What are immigration rules for getting married in England and Wales?

All persons under immigration control who are marrying after civil preliminaries (giving notices) must give their notice of intention to marry at a designated register office. Please contact your nearest registration office for more information.

What happens to my personal information collected by the registrar?

View the East Riding Registration Services privacy notice for an explanation of what happens to personal information collected by registrars. 

What happens if my marriage is to take place in a place of worship?

Before arranging a religious marriage, you will need to have talked to the authorities at your place of worship. If you intend to marry in the Church of England it is unlikely you will need to inform a registrar. We suggest that you telephone the Church of England faculty office on 020 7222 5381.

In most other instances you will need to give notice of your intention to get married. This happens in the register office in the district where you live unless one of you is a foreign national without right of abode. Each party to the marriage must give their own notice. For more information on giving notice, please visit www.eastridingceremonies.co.uk (external East Riding website).

There is a minimum of 28 clear days waiting period, from the latest notice being given, before the marriage can take place. A document from both districts must be presented to the person performing the ceremony, prior to the marriage. The marriage must take place within one year of giving the earliest notice.

You may be required to have a registrar present to register your marriage. It is vitally important that the attendance of a registrar is confirmed as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The religious authorities should give all these details to you.

If you are in any doubt, please contact your nearest registration office.

How do I obtain copies of my marriage certificate?

You must apply to the register office in the district in which you were married. If you were married in the East Riding of Yorkshire we can provide a copy certificate of your marriage entry. Please contact your nearest registration office.

You can purchase additional copies of your marriage entry online.

Can we renew our vows at a later date?

Yes, we offer a bespoke renewal of vows ceremony. Find out more at:

www.eastridingceremonies.co.uk (external East Riding website). 

What happens if I or my partner wish to transgender?

Depending where your marriage was registered, and whether you and your partner wish to stay married, you will need to take certain steps before you can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. For full information, visit:

GOV.UK – Apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate (external website)

Where is my nearest registration office?

Find your nearest registration office.

How can I licence my venue for ceremonies?

You can apply for an approved venue license if your venue meets certain conditions. Further information can be found on the approved premises for ceremonies page. 

Can I leave feedback on the service I have used?

Yes, we welcome your feedback.

Please complete our online survey (external website)