Wedding Officiants
Help! I need a minster or clergyman because I can't get a registrar for my hotel wedding on the date I want!!!
Have you booked your wedding date, only to find that there's no registrar available to enact your ceremony?
Registered officiants (usually ministers or clergy) can frequently help. In NI, RO's are licensed to marry in a religious service at almost any venue that you can book. There are many advantages:
* A personal service. You meet your RO before the wedding to plan your ceremony, usually at the wedding venue.
* Total respect for you and your guests.
* A meaningful and moving marriage service - much nicer than the standard civil ceremony.
* No rush, before, during or after the ceremony.
* Positive interaction with your photographer and videographer.
Cost is between £120 - £150 for the wedding - depending on the day of the week.
So, why not contact Bob about your requirements for a Registered Officiant - even if you've booked another photographer. In nine times out of ten, we can help!
Call 07802 466302 or drop me an email!
Here's the law:-
Officiants
Ministers, priests, pastors and chaplains who will be solemnising marriages must be nominated to the Registrar General by their religious organisation. They are known as Officiants.
Notice of Marriage
Notice for all religious marriages has to be given on the prescribed Marriage Notice Forms. Each of the two parties must complete and sign a Notice Form. The Officiant must also sign at least one of the Notice Forms
If your Officiant becomes unavailable for the ceremony, contact the Registrar as one of the Notice Forms must be signed by the substitute Officiant before the schedule can be issued.
The bride and groom should submit the Notice Forms to the Registrar of the District where the marriage is to be solemnised along with the relevant documents and the notice fee of £30. Notice may be given up to a year before the date of marriage with the minimum notice period being 14 clear days.
Collection of the schedule
The marriage schedule must be collected personally by either the bride or groom from the Registrar no earlier than 14 days before the marriage
Solemnisation of the marriage
An Officiant can only solemnise a marriage when he or she has received a marriage schedule. Immediately after the ceremony the schedule must be signed by the bride and groom, two witnesses (over 16 years of age) and the Officiant.
Return of the schedule and registration of the marriage
The completed schedule must be returned within three working days to the Registrar of the District in which the marriage was solemnised. Once the schedule is received, the District Registrar will register the marriage and you can purchase certified copies.
If the marriage does not take place the schedule must be returned to the Registrar as soon as possible.