Thursday, 28 August 2008
If you wish to marry in Doncaster you may do so either by civil or religious ceremony.If you wish to marry by civil ceremony in Doncaster, you should first contact the superintendent registrar on (01302) 364922 or at registrars@doncaster.gov.uk. Always consult the superintendent registrar before attending the office, partly to avoid waiting as the office operates an appointment system, but also to ensure that you bring the correct documents with you when you do come in.
You can be married by civil ceremony in any district in England or Wales so, if your marriage is to be outside the Doncaster district, your first contact should be the superintendent registrar of the district where you wish to be married. For a marriage in approved premises, you will also need to make arrangements with the venue of your choice. In all cases you will both need to personally give a formal notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district(s) where you live.
If you wish to be married in any of the Church of England churches in Doncaster - and generally you will be able to do so only if you or your partner live in the parish - you should first speak to the Vicar. If he is able to marry you, he will arrange for the Banns to be called on three Sundays before the day of your ceremony, or for a common licence to be issued. The marriage will also be registered by the Vicar and there is generally no need to involve the local superintendent registrar.
If you wish to marry by religious ceremony in any of the other places of religious worship in Doncaster, you should first arrange to see the minister or other person in charge of marriages at the building. However, if you live outside the Doncaster district, it should be pointed out that the church or religious building must normally be in the registration district where you or your partner lives. It will also be necessary for both of you to give formal notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district(s) where you live. A registrar may also need to be booked.
Unless you are marrying in a Church of England church by Banns or Common Licence, notice of marriage has to be given personally by both parties to the marriage, to their local superintendent registrar(s). You both must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice at your local register office. If you both live in the same district, you should both attend your local register office together to give your notices of marriage. If you live in different districts then each of you will need to give notice separately in your own area.
Foreign Nationals wishing to marry in Doncaster
If either you, or the person you are intending to marry, is a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area, you can only give your notice of intention to marry at a register office specially designated by the Home Office. The nearest designated office to Doncaster is Sheffield Register Office, Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 2HH.
You may still have your marriage in Doncaster but Sheffield Register Office will issue all the necessary paperwork for the marriage to go ahead. If you are in any doubt as to whether this applies to you, please telephone us on 01302 364922 or Sheffield Register Office on 0114 203 9423.
After giving notice, you must wait another fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place (eg, if notice is given on 1st July the marriage can take place on or after 17th July).
If you are planning to be married in one of the approved premises in the area, it is often necessary to book more than twelve months ahead, in which case a provisional appointment can be made with the superintendent registrar to ensure there are staff available to attend the marriage on the day.
A current valid full passport would be the preferred document (or, where appropriate, a Home Office Travel Document, a Standard Acknowledgement letter or a national identity card). If this is not available, your birth certificate and one other document showing your current name and address, may be acceptable.
If you have been married before, you will need to produce documents to confirm that you are now free to marry. These include either a decree absolute bearing the court’s original stamp, or the death certificate of your former spouse.
Depending on you individual circumstances, other documents may be required. The superintendent registrar will be able to advise you. However, you should be aware that photocopies are unlikely to be accepted.
There are nationally set fees for giving notice to the superintendent registrar (currently £30.00 each) and for registrars’ attendance at a marriage at the register office (£43.50) or a religious building (£50.50). However, the fee for the attendance of the superintendent registrar and registrar at a marriage at approved premises (hotel, stately house, etc.) is set by the local authority. These fees are currently Monday to Friday £163.50, Saturday £245.50, Sunday £318.50 (all fees quoted are valid to 31/3/2009).
The following buildings have been licensed for civil marriages in Doncaster. This list is subject to change, please contact the superintendent registrar for the latest information.
The names in blue allow you to view the website of that particular venue.
What follows are the various ceremonies used by the Registrars at Doncaster for civil marriages, at the request of the parties to be married.
The full ceremony is of a personal format, talking of promises and commitment.
The basic ceremony is more formal, concentrating on the legal aspects of marriage.
The short ceremony is an option for those who wish to sign the register and collect their marriage certificate, with only the barest formality involved.
It should be pointed out that the words which need to be spoken by the couple being married vary very little between the different ceremonies (those shown in red) with the majority of the ceremony spoken by the Superintendent Registrar conducting the marriage.
If you wish to know more about marriage ceremonies at the register office or approved premises please ask the superintendent registrar for details. While a ceremony of marriage in the presence of a superintendent registrar cannot, by law, contain any religious aspects, it may be possible with the agreement of the registration officers attending the marriage, for you to include non-religious music and/or poetry readings and for the wedding to be video taped
Good morning/afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to welcome you all here to (name of venue) on this happy occasion.
You are here today to witness the joining in matrimony of (groom’s full name) and (bride’s full name).
For (groom’s informal name) and (bride’s informal name) today’s ceremony is a public declaration of a lifelong commitment made to one another. Each will promise to care for and support the other through all the changes and challenges, joys and sorrows, that life may send them.
If any person present knows of a lawful reason why they may not be married today, you must declare it now.
Would the bride and groom please stand.
This place in which we are now met has been duly sanctioned, according to law, for the celebration of marriages. Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows of marriage which you are about to make. Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of one man, with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others.
(Groom’s informal name) and (bride’s informal name), do you fully understand the nature of the commitment you will make to each other today?
[Both respond "yes".]
I will now ask each of you in turn to declare that you are not aware of any lawful reason why you may not be married to each other.
[Groom repeats:]
I do solemnly declare, that I know not, of any lawful impediment, why I (groom’s full name), may not be joined in matrimony, to (bride’s full name).
[Bride repeats:]
I do solemnly declare, that I know not, of any lawful impediment, why I (bride’s full name), may not be joined in matrimony, to (groom’s full name).
We have now reached the most important part of the ceremony where the bride and groom will say to one another the words which form the contract of the marriage, therefore could I ask you all to stand please.
Do you (groom’s informal name), take (bride’s informal name), to be your lawful wedded wife, and promise to support and care for her throughout your future life together?
[Groom responds "I do".]
Do you (bride’s informal name), take (groom’s informal name), to be your lawful wedded husband, and promise to support and care for him throughout your future life together?
[Bride responds "I do".]
[Witness/best man produces ring(s)]
(Groom’s informal name) and (bride’s informal name), would you please turn to face one another.
[Groom places bride’s ring on her finger and repeats:]
I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I (groom’s full name), do take thee, (bride’s full name), to be my lawful wedded wife, and I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder of the vows made between us today.
[Bride places groom’s ring on his finger and repeats:]
I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I (bride’s full name), do take thee, (groom’s full name), to be my lawful wedded husband, and I give you/I accept this ring as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder of the vows made between us today.
(Groom’s full name) and (bride’s full name), you have now made the declarations which are required by law. You have made a solemn and binding contract with each other, symbolised by the giving and receiving of a ring/rings, and this has been witnessed by your family and friends assembled here today. It is my pleasure to pronounce that you are now lawfully joined together as husband and wife.
Good morning/afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to (name of venue).
We are here today to witness the joining in matrimony of (groom’s full name) and (bride’s full name). If any person present knows of a lawful reason why they should not be married today, you must declare it now.
Would the bride and groom please stand.
This place, in which we are now met, has been duly sanctioned, according to law, for the celebration of marriages. Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows of marriage which you are about to make. Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others.
I will now ask each of you in turn to declare that you are not aware of any lawful reason why you may not be married to each other.
(Groom), will you now repeat after me…
I declare that I know, of no legal reason, why I (groom’s full name), may not be joined in marriage, to (bride’s full name).
(Bride), will you now repeat after me…
I declare that I know, of no legal reason, why I (bride’s full name), may not be joined in marriage, to (groom’s full name).
We have now reached the most important part of the ceremony, where the bride and groom will say to one another the words which form the contract of the marriage, therefore could I ask you all to stand please.
[Groom places bride’s ring on her finger and repeats:]
I (groom’s full name), take you (bride’s full name), to be my wedded wife.
[Bride places groom’s ring on his finger and repeats:]
I (bride’s full name), take you (groom’s full name), to be my wedded husband.
Having made the declarations which are required by law, before these witnesses assembled here today, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
We are here today to witness the joining in matrimony of (groom’s full name) and (bride’s full name).
Would the bride and groom please stand.
This place, in which we are now met, has been duly sanctioned, according to law, for the celebration of marriages. Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows of marriage which you are about to make. Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others.
I will now ask each of you in turn to declare that you are not aware of any lawful reason why you may not be married to each other.
Your response to the next question should be "I am".
Are you (groom) lawfully free to marry (bride).
Are you (bride) lawfully free to marry (groom).
We have now reached the most important part of the ceremony, where the bride and groom will say to one another the words which form the contract of the marriage, therefore could I ask you all to stand please.
(Groom), could you take the bride’s ring and place it on her finger, and holding it there repeat after me…
I (groom’s full name), take thee (bride’s full name), to be my wedded wife.
(Bride), could you take the groom’s ring and place it on his finger, and holding it there repeat after me…
I (bride’s full name), take thee (groom’s full name), to be my wedded husband.
Having made the declarations which are required by law, before these witnesses assembled here today, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
