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Marriages

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

Ceremonies

How your ceremony booking may be affected by the latest Government guidelines

On Monday 22 February 2021, the Government revealed their plan for the new roadmap out of lockdown, this is made up of 4 Steps which have been designed for the easing of restrictions from 8 March until 21 June 2021.The movement between steps is reliant on the following four conditions being met.

The four conditions that must be met at each Step of lockdown easing are:

  • The COVID-19 vaccine program continues to go to plan
  • Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment
  • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions
  • New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions. 

Before moving to each step of the roadmap, the Government has said that they will examine and assess the data and decide the impact of previous changes against the above four conditions before giving a week’s notice as to if the next step is achieved.

Ceremony criteria

As is currently the case, the number allowed to attend ceremonies includes the couple, witnesses and guests. Not included in the number are any person professionally working, such as registration officers, photographers and venue managers etc. 

Ceremonies taking place will still need to abide by social distancing rules and this will take precedent over the number allowed to attend a ceremony. Therefore please speak to your venue to discuss capacity for your chosen room as this may have changed since you booked.

Approved Premises - if you have booked your ceremony to take place at an Approved Premise and your venue is willing to open while following the government’s published Steps, we will be happy to attend your ceremony.  Your venue will need to have a Covid-19 safe environment risk assessment in place in order to open. 

Please speak to your venue to discuss the points that will govern your ceremony before contacting us to express your wish to go ahead with your ceremony date. 

If we receive any further updates we will publish them accordingly.

Please note: all local authority venues have COVID-19 secure environment risk assessment in place and that capacities have altered in order to accommodate social distancing.

Changes to the format of your ceremony and other restrictions may apply.

Ceremonies until 29 March

Ceremonies of up to 6 people in exceptional circumstances, must only take place. An example of such circumstances would be where one of those marrying/forming a civil partnership is seriously ill and not expected to recover.

Ceremonies from 29 March to 12 April

Ceremonies of up to 6 people which includes the couple and are no longer limited to exceptional circumstances.  

If your ceremony is booked for a local authority venue please contact us to check the capacity with the social distancing criteria.

Any budget statutory 2+2 ceremonies would not be affected.

Ceremonies from 12 April to 17 May

Ceremonies and wedding receptions will be able to take place with up to 15 people, this includes the couple.

If your ceremony is booked for a local authority venue please contact us to check the capacity with the social distancing criteria.

Any budget statutory 2+2 ceremonies would not be affected.

Ceremonies from 17 May to 21 June

Ceremonies and wedding receptions will be able to take place with up to 30 people, this includes the couple.

If your ceremony is booked for a local authority venue please contact us to check the capacity with the social distancing criteria.

Any budget statutory 2+2 ceremonies would not be affected.

Ceremonies from 21 June

Capacity limits on ceremonies will be removed, dependent on venue, subject to the outcome of the Government’s research results.

Your options

It is our recommendation that if you do not want your ceremony to take place under any of the above restrictions, you should move existing or arrange any new bookings for 2022 due to the limited availability for 2021. Again, please email us at registration.service@eastriding.gov.uk but be patient and allow us time to reply as the volume we are experiencing is very high.

We will need the following: 

  • Your full names
  • Your contact telephone number and email address
  • Current booking details: Date, time and venue if applicable
  • New booking details: Date, time and venue. 

If you have a booking and need to give notice for your intended ceremony you are required to make the decision as to if to give notice of intention no later than 8 weeks before your ceremony date. We are happy to take your notice under any restrictions which apply at the time.

Please note: following 21 June 2021 should the Government's program be successful and we are out of lockdown, we will see a return to deposits not being refunded for cancellations and the need to pay a rearrangement fee should changes to a booking take place after this date.

Free second notices are only eligible if originally given in the county of East Riding of Yorkshire and the original notice has expired due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Local authority venue capacities may have altered since your original booking. Unfortunately we are not in a position to say what new capacities might be but as soon as we can we will let those affected know.

Many thanks for your patience and understanding.

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)

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