Civil partnership ceremony

The Basic ceremony

All civil partnership ceremonies are conducted by two staff: the registrar of the civil partnership and the superintendent registrar. On the day of the ceremony the registrar will see the couple first, to check their details on the schedule. S/he will also record the names of their parents and their occupations, if this information is not already held

The civil partnership ceremony falls into six sections -

1. The superintendent registrar's introduction
2. The couple's declarations that they are free to form their civil partnership with each other
3. The signing of the civil partnership schedule and the register, by the couple and their witnesses
4. The couple's exchange of vows
5. Customary exchange of rings (this may be omitted for really simple ceremonies)
6. The presentation, by the registrar, of the civil partnership certificate. This is your legal document to prove your partnership.
   

Enhancements
In the register office marriage rooms we play music from a CD or tape. You are welcome to bring your own music.

If you are celebrating your civil partnership at an external venue, you will have the opportunity to add further enhancements to your service. These can be in the form of poetry readings or songs during the service. They should not be of a religious nature. We will invite you to come in to see us at a pre-meeting to discuss these enhancements.

Keeping it Simple
Note that if you wish, you may opt to simply the sign the schedule without a ceremony. The law does not require that declarations or vows are made in front of witnesses; simply that the couple and two witnesses sign the schedule.