What's involved in a wedding?

There’s a lot to organise in a wedding, and lots of little things that need to be looked after. There’s really not a lot to it though, and it’s my job to make sure all the fiddly legal stuff is looked after. If you decide to contact me, here’s what happens.

The short version

  1. We get together to discuss the wedding, fees, etc.
  2. We do the initial paperwork and you pay the booking fee.
  3. A couple of weeks before the wedding, you pay the balance of the fee.
  4. The day before the wedding we have the rehearsal. This includes some paperwork.
  5. We have the wedding!
  6. I make sure the paperwork is submitted and the marriage is registered.
  7. You get on with a blissfully married life!

The long(er) version

  1. Contact me to arrange a time to discuss what you’re after.
  2. We’ll get together for a chat about the wedding, what you need, what I can provide, payment and so on.
  3. I’ll also make sure that there aren’t any legal problems with your getting married. I’ll ask the following questions:
    • Are either of you under eighteen?
    • Are you related to one another?
    • Have either of you ever been married before? (And if so, are you still married?)
    • If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it doesn’t necessarily mean the wedding can’t go ahead. We’ll need to chat about the details and I can advise further.
  4. If you decide you want to go ahead with the wedding, we’ll sign the service agreement and start planning!
  5. We’ll need to have another meeting so you can submit the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This is a legal document you have to fill out and submit more than a month before the wedding. Note: if you want to get married in less than a month, you’ll need to get permission from the court, and this can only be granted in specific circumstances. See here for more information. This form isn’t usually too difficult to complete, and I’m more than happy to sit down with you and do it with you. I’ll also need to see some documents:
    • Proof of your date and place of birth (a birth certificate or passport is best)
    • Photo ID (Passport or Driver’s Licence)
    • Evidence of how any previous marriage ended (Death certificate, Divorce papers)
    • I don’t need to see any of these until before the wedding, but the wedding cannot go ahead until I have seen all of these documents. If you’re having trouble tracking any of them down, get in touch with me as soon as possible so we can discuss suitable alternatives.
  6. I usually require the booking fee to be paid when you submit the NOIM.
  7. Once the paperwork’s done, we need to start organising the ceremony. If you’re planning something extravagant, we might need to get together once or twice more to make sure everything’s on track. If you’re after something more simple, we might not have to get together until the rehearsal.
  8. Two weeks before the wedding the balance of the fee is due.
  9. The rehearsal! It’s not always possible, but I strongly suggest we get together at the venue a day or so before so we can go through all the details and make sure we all know where everything will be happening. I would also ask that you try to keep that time clear so we can get through properly. It’s not the time to drop everything and run off because someone found out where to get cheap beer for the reception (yes, that did happen to me once!)
  10. At the rehearsal we’ll also look after another piece of paperwork (the Declaration of No Legal Impediment) that needs to be done shortly before the wedding. This is a document saying there’s no legal reason that you can’t marry.
  11. Go home and get lots of rest! You have a big day tomorrow!
  12. I arrive at the venue an hour or so before things start. I make sure any equipment I need is set up and working, my paperwork is all in order and ready to go, and that everything’s in order.
  13. The wedding happens! This is your big moment, so relax and enjoy!
  14. After the main part of the ceremony we have to sign the certificates and the Register.
  15. Once that’s done, my part is over and I’ll quietly head off. I’ll make sure your copy of the Wedding Certificate is left with an appropriate person.
  16. My last job is to ensure all the required paperwork is lodged with the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages. I have two weeks to do this, but my usual practice is to post it on the way home from the wedding. Once the paperwork has been received and the wedding registered, you can apply for a Marriage Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages.

That looks like a lot, but it really isn’t. I’m there to remember most of this and your job is to enjoy the big day! If you have any questions about anything (even things that seem silly at first) please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I’ll do my best to answer.

Get in touch!