Planning the ceremony
A ceremony venue must be booked before you can give notice of marriage or a civil partnership. You’ll need to provide the venue details as part of giving notice.
You, as a couple, will need to decide what type of ceremony you want. Depending on what ceremony you choose, the process will be different.
Choose the type of ceremony
You can have a:
- civil ceremony
- religious ceremony
- Church of England (CofE) ceremony.
You cannot have a religious ceremony if you're planning a civil partnership.
You can also get married or form a civil partnership if you're housebound or detained or having a deathbed ceremony.
Civil ceremonies
A civil ceremony is non-religious and run by a legal official known as a registrar. The ceremony must take place in a licensed venue.
Find a civil ceremony venue in Medway
You'll need to pay ceremony fees, which include:
Ceremony fees
You'll need to pay a non-refundable fee to book your ceremony date with Medway Register Office. This costs £60.
You'll also need to pay a fee for the ceremony to take place. Find out more about ceremony fees.
Marriage or civil partnership certificates cost £12.50 each including postage.
Giving notice fees
You'll need to pay a fee to give notice.
Religious ceremonies
A religious ceremony is held at a place of worship that is registered for marriages. A religious minister (or other authorised person) will run the ceremony and sign the marriage schedule or document.
If there is no authorised person, you’ll need to book a registrar which costs £104.
Find a place of worship registered for marriage in Medway
Church of England (CofE) ceremonies
You can book and arrange a ceremony with your church.
A CofE ceremony will be run by a vicar in a church and can include Bible readings, hymns and prayers.
Same sex couples cannot get married in a CofE church.
Other circumstances
If you're housebound or detained
You can get married or form a civil partnership if a person is housebound or detained and cannot go to a licensed ceremony venue.
Email register.office@medway.gov.uk for ceremony and giving notice fees.
Deathbed ceremonies (Marriage by Registrar General's Licence)
A deathbed ceremony is a marriage or civil partnership that takes place when a person is seriously ill and has little to no chance of recovery.
Email register.office@medway.gov.uk for more information.