The Registry Office
The most simple way to register your legal partnership is at the Registry Office.
The Civil Partnership Act provides only for the legally registration of your relationship. There is no requirement for the registrar to carry out any sort of ceremony, although most are very happy to do so. Any such ceremony cannot have any religious content, and as with any other wedding, the content must be agreed by the registrar in advance.
The Civil Partnership Act provides only for the legally registration of your relationship. There is no requirement for the registrar to carry out any sort of ceremony, although most are very happy to do so. Any such ceremony cannot have any religious content, and as with any other wedding, the content must be agreed by the registrar in advance.
Venues Licensed for Civil Ceremonies
As an alternative to Registry Office wedding, your relationship can be formalised at any venue that has been approved for the registration of civil partnerships. Approved Premises include stately homes and other prestigious buildings, hotels and restaurants.
Again, you cannot have a religious element to your ceremony, and the legal parts of your ceremony cannot take place outdoors.
Again, you cannot have a religious element to your ceremony, and the legal parts of your ceremony cannot take place outdoors.
Church Weddings
Some ministers are happy to bless the relationship of a gay couple in church, although this is not considered a widely acceptable practice by the Church, and any such blessing would not fulfil the legal requirements for registering the relationship.
As with many other couples, you may feel that your wedding is not complete without a church element, and if that is the case a sympathetic minister may be able to offer some sort of ceremony before or after your civil partnership is registered.
Read about Alex and Bev's experience.
As with many other couples, you may feel that your wedding is not complete without a church element, and if that is the case a sympathetic minister may be able to offer some sort of ceremony before or after your civil partnership is registered.
Read about Alex and Bev's experience.
Humanist Ceremonies
As with religious ceremonies, a humanist ceremony will not make your relationship legal, and should be used in addition to formalising your relationship in front of the registrar.
A humanist service or celebration can take any form you want, and can be held anywhere. You do not need a specialist celebrant to carry out the service, indeed it may consist of nothing more than the two of you saying your vows to each other in front of a group of friends.
A humanist service or celebration can take any form you want, and can be held anywhere. You do not need a specialist celebrant to carry out the service, indeed it may consist of nothing more than the two of you saying your vows to each other in front of a group of friends.
Interfaith Weddings
What happens when you and your partner come from different religions? Then the answer could be an Interfaith Ceremony. The Minister takes elements of the various religions and combines these in a unique and tailor-made ceremony. You may not necessarily even come from different faiths, maybe you fancy something a little bit more than just a Civil Ceremony and of course you could always have an Interfaith Ceremony for a Vow Renewal.
For further information on Interfaith Weddings, please click here.
For further information on Interfaith Weddings, please click here.
Overseas
Contact the Embassy or High Commission of the country concerned if you would like to register a civil partnership abroad, to check on the requirements for that country.
You may be asked to obtain a certificate of no impediment. This is a document required by some foreign authorities to enable a British national to register a civil partnership in their country and, under certain circumstances, it can be provided by your registration authority. If you are asked to provide one, you should contact your registration authority via your local county council website.
You may be asked to obtain a certificate of no impediment. This is a document required by some foreign authorities to enable a British national to register a civil partnership in their country and, under certain circumstances, it can be provided by your registration authority. If you are asked to provide one, you should contact your registration authority via your local county council website.