Any party living outside Cambridgeshire MUST either give notice in the district in which they live or have lived at an address in Cambridgeshire for 9 consecutive days immediately prior to their notice date. i.e. 7 clear nights (for example if the first night is the 1st of the month the earliest notice can be given is the 10th of the month). You must supply either: Option 1: Letter from the owner of the property confirming that you have lived at this address for at least 9 consecutive days immediately before the date of your appointment. The owner must give the address, your name and dates you have lived there, the owner's full name and address and it must say that they are the owner. They must sign and date the letter. Option 2: Letter from tenant living at the same address confirming that you have lived there for at least 9 consecutive days immediately before the date of your appointment. The tenant must give the address, your name and the dates you have lived there, the tenant's full name and it must say that they are the tenant at this address. They must sign and date the letter. Click here to download a form that can be used to confirm evidence of residence in Cambridgeshire. at your notice appointment . ​ Failure to produce evidence will mean that we will be unable to take your notice and your notice fees will not be refundable.

You can only give notice with our service if you live here in Cambridgeshire (this does not include the area covered by Peterborough), or will have lived here for at least the 9 days immediately before your appointment. If one / both of you live elsewhere you must give notice where you live . Answer the questions below to find out how to book your notices and work out which documents you and/or your partner will need to bring to the appointment. If required, you can change your answers at the bottom of the page. ​ Click on the Email button below to send a copy of this document to your email address. Anchor 1 foreign1 foreignp Foreign outside1 outsidep Outside stoppartner1 stoppartner2 Waiting for status ... Email Send BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT Please note: ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENT Please note: WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT Please note: WHAT YOUR PARTNER NEEDS TO BRING TO THEIR APPOINTMENT Please note: YOUR ANSWERS Please note: Before we can advise on evidence they have to bring, we have to discuss their situation with them. ​ Please contact us with additional information about their circumstances . Is your partner a member of the visiting armed forces or do they have diplomatic status? Yes No Is your partner from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settlement or pre-settlement status or did they make an application for settlement or pre-setlement status before 30 June 2021? Yes No Does your partner have Irish nationality? Yes No Does your partner have British nationality? Yes No Was a divorce granted outside the British Isles? i.e England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Yes No How did it end? Divorce/ Dissolution Death of their Partner Has your partner ever been married or in a civil partnership? Yes No Was your partner born before 1 January 1983? Yes No Does your partner live in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough) Yes No Before we can advise on evidence you have to bring, we have to discuss your situation with you. ​ Please contact us with additional information about your circumstances . ​ Are you a member of the visiting armed forces or have diplomatic status? Yes No Are you from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settlement or pre-settlement status or did you make an application for settlement or pre-settlement status before 30 June 2021? Yes No Do you have Irish nationality? Yes No Do you have British nationality? Yes No Was a divorce granted outside the British Isles? i.e England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Yes No How did it end? Divorce/ Dissolution Death of your Partner Have you ever been married or in a civil partnership? Yes No Were you born before 1 January 1983? Yes No Do you live in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough)? Yes No Did you register on our booking system and proceed to book your ceremony or formation online? Yes No Have you already booked your ceremony or formation? Yes No What building are you having your ceremony or formation in? A Register Office or Approved Venue An Anglican Church (Church of England/ Church in Wales) Any Other Religious Place of Worship Where are you having your ceremony or formation? In Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough) Outside Cambridgeshire In Scotland In Ireland Abroad subject Answers ​ ​ Start again Where are you having your ceremony or formation? Change What building are you having your ceremony or formation in? Change Have you already booked your ceremony or formation? Change Did you register on our booking system and proceed to book your ceremony or formation online? Change Do you live in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough)? Change Were you born before 1 January 1983? Change Have you ever been married or in a civil partnership? Change How did it end? Change Was a divorce granted outside the British Isles? Change Do you have British nationality? Change Do you have Irish nationality? Change Are you from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settlement or pre-settlement status? Change ​ Are you a member of the visiting armed forces or have diplomatic status? Change Does your partner live in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough) Change Was your partner born before 1 January 1983? Change Has your partner ever been married or in a civil partnership? Change How did it end? Change Was a divorce granted outside the British Isles? Change Does your partner have British nationality? Change Does your partner have Irish nationality? Change Is your partner from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settlement or pre-settlement status or did they make an application for settlement or pre-setlement status before 30 June 2021? Change Is your partner a member of the visiting armed forces or do they have diplomatic status? Change

New Service coming soon Thinking of using a celebrant for your special day? Our bespoke ceremonies could be the answer ... ​ Our celebrants have years of experience and have conducted thousands of ceremonies so you can be confident that your special day is in safe hands when you choose our bespoke option, and you have the added bonus that all the legal requirements are seamlessly taken care of. When you choose our bespoke ceremonies, you will be contacted by your own ceremony coordinator who will guide you through the entire process. They will not only be with you for your legal registration but will also conduct your ceremony on your special day. You will have your legal registration with just the two of you and your two witnesses, either the day before or on the morning of your ceremony in one of our offices. This will be a straightforward, low-key appointment so that all the special elements are saved for the day. If you are using an Approved Venue you can opt to have this element done at the venue. Your celebrant will perform the ceremony at the venue of your choice; it doesn’t need to be a licensed premise, it can be anywhere you want, such as a garden or open space. We will use a script that you have chosen and compiled carefully together with your coordinator, and it can incorporate symbolic ceremonies such as handfasting, a sand ceremony, or candle lighting. The ceremony can be exactly as you wish. Our Bespoke Ceremonies offer the best of everything, allowing you the freedom to express yourselves and have a day you have always imagined. With the security and experience of our professional, trained celebrants and the ease of the legalities taken care of it really is the perfect solution. Click here to register your interest in a bespoke ceremony .

​ If you are: ​ Customer focused. Passionate about working with people and delivering a quality service to customers. Committed to effective team working and flexible in your approach. Able to conduct yourself with authority whilst maintaining a friendly manner. ; then please read on. We are looking to appoint relief Ceremony Officers working throughout the county to register marriages and civil partnerships, carrying out all related duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Registration Acts. After gaining experience you will then also conduct statutory and non-statutory ceremonies at Registration Offices, religious buildings and Approved Premises. You will: Have the ability and confidence to use your own initiative (within set legal parameters). Be able to work accurately under pressure, with clear legible handwriting and the highest attention to detail Demonstrate enhanced organisation skills. Exhibit excellent communication and presentation skills, including public speaking to small and large groups. Be able to work with a wide variety of people across a range of settings. Deliver an exceptionally high quality, customer focused, service. Have the ability to travel to and from over 75 Approved Premises across Cambridgeshire, as well as our own locations and some religious buildings. ​ As a relief Ceremony Officer you will ideally need to be available to work some weekdays, 2 or 3 Saturdays per month, along with occasional Sundays and Bank Holidays. The work pattern is variable with a high demand for ceremonies in the summer months and availability during the summer holidays is essential. Salary scale is currently £11.70 to £12.92 per hour, with enhanced rates for Saturdays (x 1.5), Sunday (x 1.78) and Bank Holidays (x 2). Successful applicants will start at bottom of scale unless they have relevant recent registration experience. Full training and support will be provided, so prior experience is beneficial but not essential. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation, and our communities. ​ If you're interested in the role please contact us using the form below. Anchor 1 First Name Last Name Email Tell us about yourself Send Thank you for contacting us

A ceremony or appointment booking is accepted on the condition that: ​ There is no impediment in marriage or civil partnership legislation to prevent notice being given or the event taking place Legal preliminaries are completed within statutory time limits (noting we do not issue schedules on a Saturday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday) Any foreign divorce/dissolution papers are accepted by the Registrar General where applicable That Home Office permission is granted where applicable That all relevant fees are paid in full in accordance with required timescales (see below) The requested date and time of the ceremony, and any associated notice, is available within our commitments That for civil partnerships and marriages you provide two suitable witnesses (legally our staff cannot act as witnesses) That for non-statutory ceremonies (Naming and Renewal of Vows ceremonies) you accept these do not confer any legal status or rights That once a notice has been signed you understand that legally it is only valid for the exact location stated, and only valid for 12 months. Any request to post any documents is at your own risk, even if the postal service is paid for Citizenship ceremonies are subject to regulations imposed by the Home Office therefore we cannot accept any liability for circumstances outside our control Public health or government restrictions may impact on ceremonies, such as, but not limited to, numbers of guests permitted to attend the ceremony Fees Fees are published on our website cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/fees Our locally set fees are subject to change on 1 April each year, statutory fees changes can take place at any time. As we take bookings in advance, if the fee changes between the time of booking and the date of your ceremony we reserve the right to pass on any fee increases to you. ​ Once you have booked and paid for a ceremony or appointment you have 14 days to cancel it in writing (including e-mail). In such cases you will be required to pay a cancellation fee in proportion to the costs of the services provided up until the date you communicated your cancellation of the booking ​ Ceremony fees are payable in full at the time of booking. An administration fee for certificates is taken once notice is given / when requested by us – whichever is sooner. An administration fee is payable whenever details of a booking are changed, and is inclusive of multiple changes if made at exactly the same time. This includes (but is not limited to) changing the time, date or venue of a ceremony after a booking is made. Such changes may incur increased fees (such as changing to a higher price band) or the legal requirement to give new notices. For cancellation of ceremonies please see relevant sections below. An administration fee is taken at the time of booking for all notice appointments. Provided you turn up on time with all original valid documents and meet the legal criteria notice will be taken and the admin fee utilised accordingly. You may re-schedule your appointment once free of charge provided you give us at least 2 full working days notice (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays). If you give less notice, fail to turn up, fail to turn up on time and we are unable to proceed due to other appointments, we are unable to take the notice due to you not following the information provided on booking or you cancel completely this fee is forfeit. If we have to cancel the appointment for any reason we will re-schedule free of charge but no refund will be due. Postage and handling fees are paid for at your own risk. Cancellation of Ceremony Bookings by Us ​ Your ceremony may be cancelled by Cambridgeshire Registration Service if the total fees have not been paid and / or legal preliminaries cannot be completed due to any normal reason. ​ If the ceremony cannot be completed solely due to any temporary Government/ Local Government restriction or legislation in place, for example (but not limited to) social distancing or lockdown as a result of a pandemic, then the ceremony will be re-scheduled once free of charge - otherwise the conditions below will apply. ​ No refund will be made where the couple fail to notify the Registration Service after the notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership of any restrictions that affect the legality of the ceremony or registration. ​ Cancellation of Ceremony Bookings by the Couple ​ In the event that you need to cancel your ceremony for any reason you will be required to notify us in writing (including email). Where you have previously moved a ceremony and then subsequently cancelled the following will apply from the original ceremony date. Any ceremony payments will be subject to the following refund schedule, based on the date we received such a request from one of the parties in writing (including e-mail): More than 6 calendar months before the ceremony date you will receive a full refund of the fees paid (subject to the deduction of the administration fee) Between 6 calendar months and 3 calendar months before the ceremony date you will receive a 75% refund of the fees paid (subject to the deduction of the administration fee) Between 3 calendar months and 30 days before the ceremony date you will receive a 50% refund of the fees paid (subject to the deduction of the administration fee) Less than 30 days before the ceremony or failure to cancel in writing before the ceremony date no refund will be made on fees paid Notice Fees are statutory fees and cannot therefore be refunded Please include your ceremony date, location and reference number. The refund will be made to the original payee and if paid by card, refunded by card. If cash or cheque was used, the refund will be by cheque which may take longer to issue. All refunds will be processed within 30 days of receipt of the required written confirmation. The Ceremony ​ We will provide the ceremony delivered at a venue of your choice.. ​ The content of some ceremonies has a range of additional options that needs to be agreed with us in advance of the ceremony. ​ Marriage or civil partnership registrations, delivered at our Registration offices, are subject to specific booking conditions and exclusive to limited week day availability. The content of a marriage or civil partnership registration is predetermined and not subject to customisation. ​ All ceremonies are exclusively delivered by Registration Service staff to ensure a high degree of solemnity in keeping with the occasion and so that legal requirements are maintained. The Registration Service reserve the right to make the final decision on any wording used, and will not accept liability for any omission, which may be caused by reasons beyond its control. ​ We will allocate personnel to attend your ceremony and reserve the right to substitute other experienced and qualified staff in case of sickness or other unforeseen circumstances on the day. ​ Registration Staff will decide on the day if a ceremony can be held outside at a venue with an approved outside structure and their decision is final. ​ For fire, safety and comfort the number of guests (which includes all babies and children) must not exceed the capacity of the room. Additional guests over this number will be excluded from the ceremony. Please liaise with your venue to ensure that the number they are licensed for is not exceeded; this will save any disappointment on your special day. ​ Liability ​ We do not accept liability for: Ceremonies ​ The failure of any music system provided by the venue, yourself or a third party Any delay or loss caused by your late or non-arrival at the due date and time Any loss caused by a request from you or your representatives to delay the ceremony Any loss caused by a request from you or your representatives to cancel a ceremony on the day following the decision of Registration Staff to move the ceremony inside as set out below under ‘Outside Ceremonies’ Approval of the venue is granted only in connection with the provision of ceremonies. We cannot accept liability for the failure or neglect on behalf of the venue, for any agreement between you and the venue for the use or provision of any services and/or facilities. Any loss or compensation where a ceremony is stopped from proceeding because (a) it would be void if it went ahead, (b) an offence under the Marriage or Civil Partnership Acts would be committed, and (c) it would be against the public interest Where a ceremony is cancelled on the day due to the late arrival of the couple and/or any guests. We reserve the right to take appropriate action to ensure other ceremonies our staff need to attend are delivered at the agreed time. No refund will be made in these circumstances Any loss to the extent that it is caused by a Force Majeure event as described below. We strongly recommend that you take out suitable ceremony insurance to cover any losses or expenses incurred. We cannot recommend any particular insurance provide for you. ​ Other appointments and services ​ Any delay or loss caused by your late or non-arrival at the due date and time Any loss caused by a request from you or your representatives to delay the appointment Any delay or loss relating to items posted out to you. Our liability ends at the point we hand the item over to the relevant postal service Any loss or compensation where an appointment is stopped from proceeding because (a) it would be void if it went ahead, (b) an offence under the relevant Registration Acts would be committed, and (c) it would be against the public interest Any loss to the extent that it is caused by a Force Majeure event as described below ​ General ​ In the event of a 'Force Majeure', we will endeavour to perform your ceremony on your chosen day. We strongly recommend that you take out ceremony insurance to cover losses or expenses incurred in the case of events outside our control. ​ 'Force Majeure' means war, civil war, armed conflict, terrorist attack, governmental action, fire, flood, severe weather conditions, pandemic or epidemic or any other act or matter which notwithstanding the reasonable diligence and foresight of Cambridgeshire County Council and its partner providers, is beyond their reasonable control. ​ Any reference to working days does not include Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public holidays. ​ Animals (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not permitted at our own ceremony rooms but this is discretionary for Approved Venues and MUST be discussed at the time of booking and after prior agreement with your venue. An additional charge of £40.00 will be applied to your booking and is a non-refundable payment. A member of the Ceremonies Team will contact you to complete a checklist before the ceremony date, animals will not be permitted to attend a ceremony without this. ​ Outside ceremonies ​ Many couples wish to have their ceremony outside and we will do everything we can to ensure your ceremony lives up to your expectations. Outdoor ceremonies can take place at our approved venues during the period 1 March to 31 October. ​ If you wish to hold your civil ceremony outside at an approved venue, you have two options: A permanent licensed outdoor structure, such as a pavilion or summerhouse. This must be included in the venue’s license granted by Cambridgeshire County Council. The law states that civil ceremonies must be performed with all parties within the licensed structure. ‘All parties’ mean the couple, the two Registration Officers, the two witnesses. In addition, there must be a table large enough to complete the legal paperwork. An area of land within the boundaries of a licensed venue, such as a lawn or courtyard. This area must have been approved by the Superintendent Registrar and fulfil the requirement to be ‘seemly and dignified’. It is possible to erect a temporary structure, for example a marquee or gazebo, on this approved area of land. Please consult with your chosen venue directly to determine which options for outside ceremonies they are able to offer. ​ The venue must also provide alternative licenced facilities set up for a ceremony inside in case the conditions do not allow the ceremony to take place outside. If the inside room is not large enough for all the guests, the couple will have to decide who joins them in the room. Our conditions for a ceremony being moved inside include but are not exclusive to: Rain, damp conditions or the likelihood of showers and snow or intense heat and sunshine. Unsuitable conditions for our staff to wear registration service ceremony attire, normally a business suit. An example would be if a coat was needed due to cold weather. The paperwork being put at risk by damp conditions, winds, rain or snow as the schedule is a unique document that cannot be replicated and must be protected at all times. Your guests being unable to hear the ceremony and at risk of being uncomfortable. Once the ceremony has started, it cannot be moved. However, please do not let your day be spoilt if your ceremony cannot take place outside. The indoor alternative will be just as lovely - consider it a bonus if the weather is kind to you. The alternative room must be licensed by Cambridgeshire County Council and set up ready for the ceremony to be moved. The decision as to where your ceremony will take place is made by the Registration Staff present on the day and their decision is final. ​ You agree to the above conditions and that the final decision on where the ceremony takes place is the responsibility of the Registration Staff in attendance on the day. You agree to use the alternative indoor licensed ceremony room if the ceremony cannot take place outside and to decide who comes into the room if the capacity is below our guest numbers. If you do not accept these terms and conditions, the ceremony will be held inside. ​ Customer Contact ​ It is your responsibility to ensure that you update us in writing (including e-mail) with any changes to relevant contact details, such as phone numbers and e-mail addresses. ​ Most questions can be answered by reading all the pages on our website at cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk . If there are still further queries the quickest way to contact us is via cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/contact , or you can call the Contact Centre on 0345 045 1363. ​ We take customer complaints very seriously. We subscribe to the principles of The Local Government Ombudsman - Commission for Local Administration in England - Remedies Guidance on good practice. Any complaint or claim must be made in writing to the Cambridgeshire Registration Service, Huntingdon Library, Princes Street, Huntingdon PE29 3PA, or email to regadmin@cambridgeshire.gov.uk no later than 21 working days after the ceremony or appointment. Your information Sharing your information We may disclose your information to others, but only where this is necessary, either to comply with our legal obligations or as permitted by Data Protection Legislation. This includes for the purpose of the prevention and/or detection of crime, or where it is necessary to allow a third party working for or acting on behalf of Cambridgeshire County, to provide a service. ​ Obtaining your information Under Data Protection Legislation you have a right to ask for and receive a copy of the information we hold about you. To exercise this right please write to or e-mail data.protection@cambridgeshire.gov.uk More information about your rights is available on the Information Commissioner's website . . Definitions ​ "Data Protection Legislation" i. the Data Protection Act 1998 ii. the Data Protection Act 2018 to the extent that it relates to processing of Personal Data iii. the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), iv. the Law Enforcement Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/680) and v. any applicable national implementing Laws as amended from time to time and privacy and all applicable Law about the processing of Personal Data and privacy. ​ Other “us” and “we” – Cambridgeshire Registration Service “you” – a party to the ceremony “ceremony” – civil partnership formation, civil partnership ceremony, marriage ceremony, citizenship ceremonies and non-statutory services (for example (but not limited to) naming ceremonies and renewal of vow ceremonies) “legal impediment” – this relates solely to legislative aspects that are in contravention of permanent marriage or civil partnership legislation. This does not include any temporary Government restriction or legislation in place, for example (but not limited to) social distancing or lockdown as a result of a pandemic ‘Marriage and Civil Partnership Acts’ means the Acts of Parliament (and any regulations made under those Acts) covering the legal preliminaries to, the solemnization and registration of a civil marriage/civil partnership either in a register office or approved premises within England and Wales provided these are permanent. ‘Venue’ means Approved Premise ​ Public health or Government restrictions may impact on ceremonies, either now or in the future (such as, but not limited to, numbers of guests). There is no refund / financial compensation for any such impact. ​

In order to have a Civil Marriage of Civil Partnership you will need to give legal notice of intention in a registration office. During the appointment you will be required to produce specific documents as evidence of your ID, nationality and residence. At the end of the appointment you will be required to sign a legal statement to say that you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. Once your appointment is completed the details for your ceremony will be displayed at our Cambridge office for 28 days. The notice period of 29 days will start on the day when you attend your notice appointment. Please note that if one of you is a foreign national then your notice period can be extended to 70 days by the Home Office in certain circumstances. At the end of the notice period your marriage documents will be produced. ​ You can only give notice up to 12 months before the date of your ceremony. We would recommend that you give notice 4-6 months before your ceremony to ensure that all the legal requirements have been completed in time. ​ Click here to find out how to book your notice(s), the original documents you'll need to bring to your appointment(s) and any additional fees that apply . ​ If you cannot meet the requirements at the appointment we may not be able to take your notice, which may mean making a new appointment, paying a new fee, and possibly delaying your ceremony.

Are you contacting us regarding: A Citizenship Ceremony A Marriage Ceremony A Civil Partnership Formation A Naming Ceremony A Renewal of Vows Ceremony Before contacting us, would you like to take a look at some frequently asked questions? Yes No Filter by Category What will happen if I don't return my ceremony planner? If your ceremony planner is not received within 1 week of the ceremony then we will deliver a basic ceremony. The Law Commission are making changes to the way that weddings are delivered. When will it become law? The Law Commission has published its final recommendations on the reform of weddings law in England and Wales. The report only contains proposals for reform and has no legal foundation. The government has up to 12 months to respond and then any changes will then need to be laid in law so, for now, nothing has changed. A summary of the report has been published at: https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lawcom-prod-storage-11jsxou24uy7q/uploads/2022/07/Weddings-summary-report_.pdf How do I apply in advance for a passport using the surname I will use after my marriage / civil partnership? If you want to change the surname on your passport, this can be done up to 12 months before the ceremony. You need to send a completed PD2 form, available from GOV.UK or from Post Offices, to Cambridgeshire Registration Service, Huntingdon Library, Princes Street, Huntingdon PE29 3PA with a stamped addressed envelope. Registration Officers will contact you to take a Payment of £37, complete the form and return it to you so that you can include it with your passport application. Your passport will be issued three months prior to your ceremony. Details can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/passports-for-newly-weds-and-civil-partners Will the cost of my ceremony increase after I’ve booked and paid? When you book a ceremony you are accepting our terms and conditions, which include your liability for any fee increase. Locally set fees Fees are reviewed by the council each April so the price for future years may increase. They are presently set until 31 March 2024. Details can be found at: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/fees Statutory Fees Fees are set by the Treasury. These can be changed at any point during the year, and this can sometimes be at short notice. Can I give notice and / or have a ceremony virtually? Legislation in England and Wales does not permit legal notice, civil partnerships or marriages to be done in any way other than in person face-to-face. Can we convert our existing legal civil partnership to a marriage? There is no current legal option in England or Wales that allows for the conversion of a mixed sex civil partnership into a marriage. If you have a same sex civil partnership then there is a legal option to convert from that to a same sex marriage. Details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/convert-civil-partnership What is the difference between a civil marriage and a civil partnership? To see a list of differences go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marriage-and-civil-partnership-in-england-and-wales Can I re-register my child(ren) after marrying/ forming a Civil Partnership? If parents have married or formed a civil partnership after their child was born, they are required to re-register the birth to have the natural father’s details added to the birth record. You must use form LA1 to re-register your child’s birth. The form can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/849229/GRO_LA1.pdf Why doesn't my certificate show the surname I have decided to use after my marriage / civil partnership, and can it be added? In England and Wales (unlike some other countries) the law means that a certificate will only show the name in which you contracted your marriage / civil partnership, and not the surname you now wish to use. It is not possible to add this to a certificate. Most places you contact to inform them of your name change will simply expect to see it as a reflection of the names on your certificate (for example if you decide to double barrel the seperate surnames previously held by both of you). There is an error on my certificate, how do I correct it? On the day of the ceremony it is your responsiblity to check that the information on the schdules is all correct before signing it. The person conducting the ceremony must also then note how each person has signed, in pencil, fo us to copy as we enter details onto the system in due course. We will of course first check that it is not a simple copying error made by ourselves when adding the completed schdule to the system. To report a problem go to: https://cambridgeshire-self.achieveservice.com/service/Registrations_general_enquiries ; and use the form to state the date and location of your ceremony, your names, what the error is and what the correct details are. We will then check for any error on our part. If it is our mistake, and within legal permissions, we will arrange for you to return the certificate and issue a replacement. If not then there are legal processes, timescales and statutory fees which apply for all corrections depending on the type of error. Details will provided when we reply to your initial query. I have received my certificate but it says 'Certified Copy' on it. Where is the original? The legal record of a marriage or civil partnership is the computer entry made after the ceremony. This means that every certificate we issue is a certified copy - there is no 'original' for you to receive, nor any "digital" copy. How do I order certificates after my civil / religious ceremony has taken place? Once your ceremony has taken place it will be added to the computer system within 7 days, provided there are no issues with your completed schedule (and in the case of any religious ceremony that the schedule has been received back from the minister of religion). Please go to: https://www.camdex.org.uk/search.cfm ;to order your certificates. Please note the various postal options and timescales before ordering. I have had my ceremony, where are the certificates I had pre-paid for? Once your ceremony has taken place it will be added to the computer system within 7 days, and then any pre-paid certficates will be posted within a further 14 days via second class Royal Mail (currently post is then taking 2-3 weeks to then be delivered). Please therefore allow at least 28 days after your ceremony for receipt. I can't remember if I have pre-ordered any certificates - how can I check? If you booked and paid for ceremony on-line you will need to log into your online account to check. If you did not book and pay on-line please call our colleagues on 0345 045 1363 who can check for you. Please note that you will not have pre-paid for any certficates for a religious ceremony that we are not / did not attend. I need a copy of my certificate on the day of the ceremony, can I have one? The certificate cannot be issued until due process has been followed so unfortunately this will not be possible. If you want something to use to perhaps assist with upgrades on travel or accommodation for a honeymoon, or similar, you will need to ask what else they will accept from yourselves. In a few scenarios we do understand a suitable document may be required for urgent legal purposes (such as the country you are travelling to has a law preventing couples that are not in a legal marriage / civil partnership from sharing a hotel room). If you feel this applies in your case then please contact us at least 28 days before your ceremony. We can then consider your request further, explain what evidence will be required to support it and the format the document (which is not a certificate) will take. I have had a ceremony abroad. Do I need to register it here; can I get a certificate from you; can I have a ceremony here too? If your ceremony is legally recognised in the country where it took place, and does not contravene the relevant laws of this country, it will be recognised here. You can not register it here and we can not provide any certificates. You can not have another legal ceremony here, as it would bring into question the validity of the first ceremony, but we do offer celebratory 'renewal of vows' instead. To find out more go to: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/renewal-of-vows I am having a legal ceremony abroad and have been told I need a 'Certificate of No Impediment'. Can I get one from you? You can only do so if you are British and physically live here in Cambridgeshire (this does not include Peterborough), and if required by the country where you are having a ceremony. You can find out what is required by going to: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad Some countries also require the Certificate of No Impediment to be issued within X months of your ceremony date. Please note that once notice is given then, after at least 28 clear days, the document will be issued and posted to you. If the link above indicates that you require a CONI, you can book an appointment from the link on the front page: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/ We have been asked by a film company to have our ceremony filmed. Is this ok with you? You need to ask the film company to get in touch with us first as there are legal agreements to be considered which must be checked in advance. If they just turn up on the day, they will not be allowed to film. Can our guests throw confetti? You can throw confetti outside of the ceremony room. We would ask that you use bio degradable confetti. Can you ask our guests not to post anything on social media until we have posted first? If you have any specific requests about photography or social media during the ceremony, you can ask the registrar on the day to announce them just before it starts. We would also suggest that you make your guests aware of this request in advance by including it on the invitation or order of service. Please note we accept no resonsiblity or liability if anyone fails to comply. Can our dog attend our ceremony? Animals (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not permitted at our own ceremony rooms but this is discretionary for Approved Venues and MUST be discussed at the time of booking and after prior agreement with your venue. An additional charge of £40.00 will be applied to your booking and is a non-refundable payment. A member of the Ceremonies Team will contact you to complete a checklist before the ceremony date, animals will not be permitted to attend a ceremony without this. Can I bring fresh flowers for my ceremony at a council ceremony room? If you wish to bring small flower decorations, you can place them in the room at the start of the ceremony. The arrangements will need to be removed at the end of your ceremony. We cannot arrange access to the room in advance. Please remember that there is limited space in the room. How do I provide music for my ceremony? If your ceremony is in a council ceremony room you can either choose for us to play a selection of music or ask a guest to use a digital device to play the music via Bluetooth on our sound bar. Approved venues will make their own arrangements with you directly. How do I sign the marriage schedule or civil partnership schedule? You will need to sign with your usual signature using the name you have before the ceremony/ formation takes place or ‘the name you entered the ceremony room with'. What time should I arrive for my ceremony? If your ceremony is in a council ceremony room, please arrive no less than fifteen minutes before the ceremony start time. If your ceremony is at one of our approved venues, please arrive at least 30 minutes before your ceremony is due to begin. You will both need to meet with the registrars prior to your ceremony. We offer the opportunity to do this as a couple or separately. Do I need to bring ID on the day of my ceremony? Generally, no. If you change your name by Deed Poll between giving notice and the ceremony, you will need to bring an original copy of that Deed Poll. Witnesses do not need ID. Do I have to provide witnesses? It is your responsibility to provide two witnesses. There is no lower age limit for witnesses, but they must be old enough to understand what is taking place and to be able to testify to what has taken place should this be necessary. They must be able to speak and understand English. They must be present throughout the ceremony. The Registration Service are unable to provide, or act, as witnesses. Can we have a ceremony at any religious building we want to? For all Anglican buildings you need to talk to the church team before contacting us. In most cases you will not need to give notice, or ask us to attend, because you will be able to use religious preliminaries instead. The law for all non-Anglican buildings is very specific so please take a look at: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/marriage-outside-district Please discuss it with the religious team at the building where you intend to have your ceremony. Can I have a ceremony outside? You might be able to have your ceremony outside from 1 March to 31 October, at an Approved Venue, dependent on weather conditions. The Registrar will determine whether or not the ceremony can proceed outdoors. To find out more go to: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/venues-outdoor-structures My partner does not speak English. Can you provide a translator/interpreter? If either of you does not understand or speak English, you need to have an interpreter/translator to ensure you understand what you are agreeing, both when giving notice and at your ceremony. This can't be either of you but can be a family member, friend, neighbour, colleague etc. The interpreter must sign as a witness to the ceremony. If you have any other difficulties with speech or language, or don't know anyone, please let us know in advance. I have lost my decree absolute (marriage) or dissolution order (civil partnership). Can I still give notice? No. At the appointment you must produce an original court stamped (and fully signed) copy of the decree absolute or dissolution order. Copies can be obtained from the county court where your divorce was heard. Terms and conditions apply to any appointments booked. Terms and Conditions can be found at: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/notice-terms-and-conditions I am giving notice but my decree absolute only shows my married name and I have reverted to my maiden name. Is this ok? You will need to bring your marriage / civil partnership certificate to show the link between the surnames; alternatively, if you have a child bring their birth certificate as it will show your maiden name. Can I give notice for a religious building, even if we don't live in that District or worship there? For all Anglican buildings you need to talk to the church team before contacting us. In most cases you will not need to give notice, or ask us to attend, because you will be able to use religious preliminaries instead. The law for all non-Anglican buildings is very specific. Details can be found at: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/marriage-outside-district ; and discuss it with the religious team at the building where you intend to have your ceremony. Can you remind me what documents I need to bring to my notice appointment Go to: https://www.cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/giving-notice-of-marriage-or-cp After answering the questions it will display a summary of the documents required. When do I have to give notice by? You can give notice up to 12 months before the date of your ceremony but we would suggest that you give notice 4-6 months before the date of your ceremony for a number of reasons: 1. Your notice is venue specific. If your circumstances change and you decide to go to a different venue after having given notice then you will need to give notice again; pay a new fee and wait a further 28 days for your legal preliminaries to be completed. 2. If you are marrying/ forming a civil partnership in England or Wales then you must intend to marry/ form your civil partnership within 1 year of the date of your appointment. If your appointments were on different dates then notices will expire one year after the date of whichever of you gave notice first. If you give notice too early then a delay to the date of your ceremony caused by a change of circumstances or e.g. government restrictions to a global pandemic, may mean that you are required you to give notice again because your legal right to have your ceremony will have expired. You will then be required to wait a further 28 days to complete the legal preliminaries and incur a new fee. 3. The notice process can be completed comfortably within 4-6 months. Booking too late may mean that you are unable to secure an appointment or complete legal preliminaries in plenty of time. This is particularly important if you or your partner have divorced overseas since the documentation will have to be referred to The General Register Office which could cause a delay which is outside our control. Can I / my partner make an 'entrance' if our ceremony is in a Council Ceremony Room? Yes, you can. Couples will be interviewed together before the ceremony. Once the interview has finished the two people making the entrance will be asked to wait outside the ceremony room until the ceremony begins. Would you still like to contact us? Yes No Online - Please answer the question below: Have you already booked your ceremony? Yes No Anchor 1 Booking ID of your Ceremony Your Name Your Email Your Phone Number Your Question Send Thank you for contacting us. We will reply within 3 working days. By Post ​ Cambridgeshire Registration Service Huntingdon Library Princes Street Huntingdon PE29 3PA ​ By Phone ​ 0345 045 1363 Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm

Please find below some of the questions that you may have about the day but please contact us if you would like any further information. Frequently Asked Questions Do I have to provide witnesses? It is your responsibility to provide two witnesses. There is no lower age limit for witnesses, but they must be old enough to understand what is taking place and to be able to testify to what has taken place should this be necessary. They must be able to speak and understand English. They must be present throughout the ceremony. The Registration Service are unable to provide, or act, as witnesses. Do I need to bring ID on the day of my ceremony? Generally, no. If you change your name by Deed Poll between giving notice and the ceremony, you will need to bring an original copy of that Deed Poll. Witnesses do not need ID. What time should I arrive for my ceremony? If your ceremony is in a council ceremony room, please arrive no less than fifteen minutes before the ceremony start time. If your ceremony is at one of our approved venues, please arrive at least 30 minutes before your ceremony is due to begin. You will both need to meet with the registrars prior to your ceremony. We offer the opportunity to do this as a couple or separately. How do I sign the marriage schedule or civil partnership schedule? You will need to sign with your usual signature using the name you have before the ceremony/ formation takes place or ‘the name you entered the ceremony room with'. How do I provide music for my ceremony? If your ceremony is in a council ceremony room you can either choose for us to play a selection of music or ask a guest to use a digital device to play the music via Bluetooth on our sound bar. Approved venues will make their own arrangements with you directly. Can I bring fresh flowers for my ceremony at a council ceremony room? If you wish to bring small flower decorations, you can place them in the room at the start of the ceremony. The arrangements will need to be removed at the end of your ceremony. We cannot arrange access to the room in advance. Please remember that there is limited space in the room. Can our dog attend our ceremony? Animals (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not permitted at our own ceremony rooms but this is discretionary for Approved Venues and MUST be discussed at the time of booking and after prior agreement with your venue. An additional charge of £40.00 will be applied to your booking and is a non-refundable payment. A member of the Ceremonies Team will contact you to complete a checklist before the ceremony date, animals will not be permitted to attend a ceremony without this. Can you ask our guests not to post anything on social media until we have posted first? If you have any specific requests about photography or social media during the ceremony, you can ask the registrar on the day to announce them just before it starts. We would also suggest that you make your guests aware of this request in advance by including it on the invitation or order of service. Please note we accept no resonsiblity or liability if anyone fails to comply. Can our guests throw confetti? You can throw confetti outside of the ceremony room. We would ask that you use bio degradable confetti. Filter by Category

You can get married outside from 1 March to 31 October dependent on weather conditions. The Registrar will determine whether or not the ceremony can proceed outdoors (as agreed in our Terms and Conditions ). The ceremony must take place under a fixed structure which is licensed for ceremonies. Click here to see a list of the venues with outdoor ceremony licences . ​

Baby naming ceremonies are a time to welcome a new child into the family and are a great alternative to a traditional religious ceremony. ​ Naming ceremonies are a meaningful and joyous way of gathering the people that are important to you to celebrate the arrival of your child. The ceremony can involve you making lifelong commitments or promises to the child and to each other, and share the love, hope and dreams you have for your child. ​ You can introduce supporting adults in the ceremony who will take a special interest and play a significant role in the child’s upbringing. They can be referred to as sponsors, mentors, supporters or whatever you wish to call them. You may also wish to include other children in the ceremony. ​ The ceremony can include the significance of the child’s name, include readings and music and be as formal or informal as you wish to make it. ​ Naming ceremonies can be held within one of our Council Ceremony Rooms , at an Approved Venue or at a venue of your choice with prior agreement. ​ Click here to book a naming ceremony . ​ Please note that naming ceremonies have no legal status.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 received Royal Assent in 2021 and came into effect on Monday 27 February 2023. ​ The Act has raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales to protect children from the scourge of forced marriage. ​ This means that 16 to 17-year-olds are no longer be able to marry or enter a civil partnership under any circumstances, including with parental or judicial consent from 26 February 2023. It is no longer possible for anyone under 18 to marry or enter a civil partnership. ​ More information about the The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 can be found by clicking here . ​

Keats Room Open Day ​ Click here to book your place RSVP Book your place on eventbrite Sat 25 March Huntingdon RSVP Brooke Room Open Day ​ Click here to book your place RSVP Book your place on eventbrite Sun 13 August Cambridge RSVP Cambridgeshire Ceremonies Bride and Groom Cambridgeshire Ceremonies Celebrations Cambridgeshire Ceremonies Exchanging rings Cambridgeshire Ceremonies Bride and Groom 1/3 Book your Marriage or Civil Partnership ​ Click here to find out how to bo ok your Marriage Ceremony/Ci vil Partnership Formation . Plan your Day ​ Click here to find out how to personalise your ceremony or fo rmation . Book your Notice of Marriage, Civil Partnership or CONI Click here to find out how to book your notice appointments and the documents you'll need to bring with you . ​ Citizenship Ceremonies ​ ​ Click here if you have received an invitation from The Home Office .

If you are booking a Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership you MUST consult the page: cambridgeshireceremonies.co.uk/giving-notice ; BEFORE making your booking. The page will tell you how to book your notice (s) and will tell you and your partner what documents you should bring to your appointment. ​ ​ An administration fee is taken at the time of booking for all notice appointments. Provided you turn up on time with all original valid documents and meet the legal criteria notice will be taken and the admin fee utilised accordingly. You may re-schedule your appointment once free of charge provided you give us at least 2 full working days notice (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays). You will lose your fee if you give fewer than the 2 full working days notice, fail to turn up or arrive late. If we have to cancel the appointment for any reason we will re-schedule free of charge but no refund will be due. If you are marrying/ forming a civil partnership in England or Wales then you must intend to marry/ form your civil partnership within 1 year of the date of your appointment. If your appointments were on different dates then notices will expire one year after the date of whichever of you gave notice first. If you are marrying/ forming a civil partnership outside England or Wales then the expiry date of the schedule may be shorter so please check before booking your appointment. Details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad . If the information provided when booking is incorrect and, as a consequence, we are unable to complete your notice(s) then you will lose your fee and you will be required to book another appointment. We will be unable to take your notice(s) if you do not provide the specified original documents. If this occurs then you will lose your fee and will be required to book new appointments. After booking your appointment you will receive a confirmation email containing essential information for your appointment. If you do not receive a confirmation of your booking (please check your partner's account and your spam folders) please contact us as soon as possible . ​

Click here to see weekly availability of our ceremony rooms . Click on the images below for details of each of our ceremony rooms. Anchor 1 The Brooke Room Cambridge Register Office The Tennyson Room Ely Registration Office The Keats Room Huntingdon Registration Office The Wordsworth Room March Registration Office

If neither party lives in the Registration District where a non-Anglican religious building is located then there are only very specific legal circumstances that will allow notice to be taken and for the ceremony to take place there. These are only if : ​ there is no such religious building in the Registration District where either party resides AND the one stated for the ceremony is the closest geographically or; at least one party has a current and on-going connection with the religious building where the ceremony is intended to take i.e. this is where they currently worship on a regular basis. ​ Where neither situation applies you could consider creating residency instead. Click here for details .

If either party is subject to immigration control, at least one party giving notice must live in Cambridgeshire or have lived at an address in Cambridgeshire for 9 consecutive days immediately prior to their notice date. i.e. 7 nights. ​ Evidence of residency in Cambridgeshire will be required when your notice is taken. The couple must attend their notice appointments together. ​ You must supply either: Option 1: Letter from the owner of the property confirming that you have lived at this address for at least 9 consecutive days immediately before the date of your appointment. The owner must give the address, your name and dates you have lived there, the owner's full name and address and it must say that they are the owner. They must sign and date the letter. Option 2: Letter from tenant living at the same address confirming that you have lived there for at least 9 consecutive days immediately before the date of your appointment. The tenant must give the address, your name and the dates you have lived there, the tenant's full name and it must say that they are the tenant at this address. They must sign and date the letter. Click here to download a form that can be used to confirm evidence of residence in Cambridgeshire. at your notice appointmen t . ​ Failure to produce evidence will mean that we will be unable to take your notice and your notice fees will not be refundable.

New marriage legislation means that the way a marriage is registered in England changed from 4 May 2021. ​ The change in the law means that the details of your marriage are recorded on a marriage ‘schedule’ or in some cases ‘document’, signed by you, your witnesses and the officiant. ​ Details from the completed marriage 'schedule' or 'document' will be entered on the electronic register within 7 days of your schedule or document being received at the register office, in the area where you got married. In the case of religious ceremonies, it may first take up to 21 days for your paperwork to be received at our offices. ​ A marriage certificate can only be issued after the details have been entered on to the electronic register. This means that you will not be able to obtain a marriage certificate on the day of your marriage. This applies whether you marry in a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony. ​ If you have paid for certificates already these will be posted by second class Royal Mail (typically post can take 2-3 weeks to be delivered). Frequently Asked Questions I need a copy of my certificate on the day of the ceremony, can I have one? The certificate cannot be issued until due process has been followed so unfortunately this will not be possible. If you want something to use to perhaps assist with upgrades on travel or accommodation for a honeymoon, or similar, you will need to ask what else they will accept from yourselves. In a few scenarios we do understand a suitable document may be required for urgent legal purposes (such as the country you are travelling to has a law preventing couples that are not in a legal marriage / civil partnership from sharing a hotel room). If you feel this applies in your case then please contact us at least 28 days before your ceremony. We can then consider your request further, explain what evidence will be required to support it and the format the document (which is not a certificate) will take. I can't remember if I have pre-ordered any certificates - how can I check? If you booked and paid for ceremony on-line you will need to log into your online account to check. If you did not book and pay on-line please call our colleagues on 0345 045 1363 who can check for you. Please note that you will not have pre-paid for any certficates for a religious ceremony that we are not / did not attend. I have had my ceremony, where are the certificates I had pre-paid for? Once your ceremony has taken place it will be added to the computer system within 7 days, and then any pre-paid certficates will be posted within a further 14 days via second class Royal Mail (currently post is then taking 2-3 weeks to then be delivered). Please therefore allow at least 28 days after your ceremony for receipt. How do I order certificates after my civil / religious ceremony has taken place? Once your ceremony has taken place it will be added to the computer system within 7 days, provided there are no issues with your completed schedule (and in the case of any religious ceremony that the schedule has been received back from the minister of religion). Please go to: https://www.camdex.org.uk/search.cfm ;to order your certificates. Please note the various postal options and timescales before ordering. I have received my certificate but it says 'Certified Copy' on it. Where is the original? The legal record of a marriage or civil partnership is the computer entry made after the ceremony. This means that every certificate we issue is a certified copy - there is no 'original' for you to receive, nor any "digital" copy. There is an error on my certificate, how do I correct it? On the day of the ceremony it is your responsiblity to check that the information on the schdules is all correct before signing it. The person conducting the ceremony must also then note how each person has signed, in pencil, fo us to copy as we enter details onto the system in due course. We will of course first check that it is not a simple copying error made by ourselves when adding the completed schdule to the system. To report a problem go to: https://cambridgeshire-self.achieveservice.com/service/Registrations_general_enquiries ; and use the form to state the date and location of your ceremony, your names, what the error is and what the correct details are. We will then check for any error on our part. If it is our mistake, and within legal permissions, we will arrange for you to return the certificate and issue a replacement. If not then there are legal processes, timescales and statutory fees which apply for all corrections depending on the type of error. Details will provided when we reply to your initial query. Why doesn't my certificate show the surname I have decided to use after my marriage / civil partnership, and can it be added? In England and Wales (unlike some other countries) the law means that a certificate will only show the name in which you contracted your marriage / civil partnership, and not the surname you now wish to use. It is not possible to add this to a certificate. Most places you contact to inform them of your name change will simply expect to see it as a reflection of the names on your certificate (for example if you decide to double barrel the seperate surnames previously held by both of you). Filter by Category

Every ceremony is unique and the following information will help you prepare for the big day. Please select from the option below to find further details of how to personalise your ceremony. We recommend you submit your ceremony planner no earlier than 12 weeks before your ceremony date. Ceremony planners are reviewed by the team in ceremony date order so don't worry if you have not received confirmation from us straight away especially in the summer months. If we have any questions about the details you have provided we will contact you. If you have any queries about the day or want to change your choices once you have submitted them then please contact us . ​ Before your ceremony you will receive a confirmation email to confirm that your ceremony planner is complete and that we have everything we need. ​ To proceed, answer the next question: Is your ceremony/ formation taking place in: an Approved Venue a Council Ceremony Room Anchor 1 Are you having a Marriage a Civil Partnership Information about marrying in an Approved Venue Marriage Choices in an Approved Venue Checklist for couples marrying in an Approved Venue ​ For completion 4 weeks before the date of your ceremony. Please complete and return your checklist to ceremonies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk . Information about marrying in a Ceremony Room Marriage Choices in a Ceremony Room Checklist for couples marrying in a Ceremony Room ​ For completion 4 weeks before the date of your ceremony. Please complete and return your checklist to ceremonies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk . Information about forming a civil partnership in an Approved Venue Civil Partnership Choices in an Approved Venue Checklist for couples forming a civil partnership in an Approved Venue ​ For completion 4 weeks before the date of your ceremony. Please complete and return your checklist to ceremonies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk . Information about forming a civil partnership in a Ceremony Room Civil Partnership Choices in a Ceremony Room Checklist for couples forming a civil partnership in a Ceremony Room ​ For completion 4 weeks before the date of your ceremony. Please complete and return your checklist to ceremonies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk . Answers Is your ceremony/ formation taking place in: Change Are you having: Change

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 received Royal Assent in 2021 and came into effect on Monday 27 February 2023. ​ The Act has raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales to protect children from the scourge of forced marriage. ​ This means that 16 to 17-year-olds are no longer be able to marry or enter a civil partnership under any circumstances, including with parental or judicial consent from 26 February 2023. It is no longer possible for anyone under 18 to marry or enter a civil partnership. ​ More information about the The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 can be found by clicking here . ​