Marriage and civil partnerships
How to book your marriage or civil partnership
Marriage or civil partnership
A civil marriage ceremony or a civil partnership formation can take place at one of our Register Offices. It can also take place at a venue approved by us. Details of approved venues can be found on our approved ceremony venue page.
Marriage or civil partnership is a matter of choice for the couple.
- A marriage is officially formed as the couple say the legal vows to each other during the marriage ceremony. The documentation signed at the end of the ceremony is a record of the marriage having taken place.
- A civil partnership is formed at the point where the couple and their witnesses sign the documentation. There is no requirement for any legal vows to be spoken, though some couples may choose to sign their documentation at the end of a celebratory ceremony.
The government’s marriage and civil partnership policy paper explains the similarities and differences between civil partnership and marriage for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
Book a marriage or civil partnership
Our online booking service allows you to check our availability and reserve a time slot for your ceremony if it is taking place at an Approved Premises in Cheshire West and Chester. Bookings can be made up to three years in advance.
When you select a date all available time slots will show for your chosen venue. If your preferred time is not free you can check other available dates before making your booking fee payment or you can submit an enquiry to the team.
You can a request to book the Register Office (Merchants House or Wyvern House), make a general enquiry, postpone or rearrange a marriage ceremony or civil partnership formation already booked with us.
Conditions of booking
Fees are subject to change on the 1 April each year. The new fees are published on our website on or around 1 April and it is your responsibility to check the fee payable. If you object to any increase you may cancel your booking within one month of publication of the increase. In that eventuality the fee paid will be returned in full.
Cooling off period
You have a statutory 14 day cooling off period when you make your booking online, over the phone or by email. During this cooling off period you have the right to cancel your booking without giving any reason and we will reimburse all payments received from you.
Cancellation of bookings by the customer
To exercise your right to cancel, you must inform our registration service of your decision to cancel using our online enquiry form before the cooling off period has expired.
Reimbursement of fees
If cancelled within 14 days of booking any fee paid to the Registration Service will be reimbursed in full.
If cancelled later than 14 days after booking the fee paid to the Registration Service will not be reimbursed.
We will make reimbursements not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel. The reimbursement will be made using the same means of payment that you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise.
If you have any complaint or comment about our service
Information about how to make a comment or complaint about our service can be found on the complaints and feedback area of our website.
If you remain dissatisfied you may wish to contact the Local Government Ombudsman:
- Local Government Ombudsman website
- Phone: 0300 061 0614
Cost
The fee for marriage or a civil partnership varies on where you choose to get married or form a civil partnership. Either at a Register Office or an approved premises. Further details can be found on our fees page.
Notice of marriage or civil partnership
If you have not already done so you will need to give notice of marriage or civil partnership. You must give notice at least 28 clear days in advance of your ceremony date. You can give notice up to 12 months in advance of your ceremony date.
Register Office
The fee for a marriage or civil partnership that takes place in the Register Office start from £56. We have ceremony rooms available at our Register Offices. You can usually book a Register Office up to 12 months in advance.
From Tuesday 1 April 2025 we are offering couples the choice of a statutory ceremony or an enhanced ceremony. This does not affect any bookings already booked with us. Further details can be found on our fees page.
Statutory marriage ceremonies or civil partnership
A statutory ceremony, available at Chester Register Office only, is a simple legal ceremony with two guests.
Statutory ceremonies are available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings only.
Enhanced ceremonies
Enhanced ceremonies are available in the Merchants Suite or Wyvern House and will be available Monday to Saturday.
Approved premises
You can book Registrars up to three years in advance for ceremonies at approved premises. There is an initial non-refundable £56 fee when the ceremony is booked. We will deduct this from the final amount due.
Marriages and civil partnerships at approved premises can take place at any time. Seven days per week and including some bank holidays.
Foreign nationals
There are sometimes special procedures for foreign nationals. This is when either the bride or groom or either partner is subject to immigration control.
If this applies to you, please contact us before making any ceremony arrangements. More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.
