Marriage/civil partnership checklist

Your first consideration is to choose whether you would like a marriage or civil partnership. In a marriage, you become a husband or a wife, while in a civil partnership you become a civil partner. What is legally required during the ceremonies is also different.

If you’re considering whether to get married or enter a civil partnership, we suggest you seek legal advice before deciding which ceremony is the best for you.

If you want a ceremony in Hampshire, you can choose from one of our register offices or licensed venues.

Find a venue in Hampshire.

If you want to hold your ceremony somewhere that isn’t licensed for marriages and civil partnerships, we can help. Our packages let you hold your legal ceremony in a register office so you can have your non-statutory ceremony somewhere that’s bespoke to you. Whether you want to celebrate with your family and friends on the beach, in your garden, or somewhere else, our experts are on hand to make sure your big day runs smoothly.

Take a look at our bespoke ceremony packages.

If you decide to have a ceremony at a religious building, contact the venue first.

Find out more about ceremonies in religious buildings.

Once you’ve decided on your venue, you’ll need to book your ceremony. You can do this up to two years in advance. Whether you and your partner are entering into a marriage or civil partnership, we’re excited to help you begin this next stage of your lives together.

Giving notice is when you sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. We normally advise that you have your appointment about four months ahead of your ceremony.

This is your day, and we want it to be as special and memorable as possible. Vows, readings, and music are incredibly personal ways to customise your wedding.

Take a look at ways you can personalise your ceremony.