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What is a civil wedding ceremony? And how to have one.

Civil Wedding Ceremony - What is it?

Photography by Carrie Lavers Photography

Most people have heard of a civil wedding ceremony. There are some elements they might not know, though. Like what it actually is, what happens, and how it differs from other ceremonies. With all of the different kinds of ceremonies to choose from, it's easy to get a bit lost. No need to worry, that's why we're here! Today we're going to dive into civil wedding ceremonies, and whether they're right for you! 

 


Is a civil wedding ceremony right for you and your partner?

What is a civil wedding ceremony?

A civil wedding ceremony is a marriage without a religious context. It means that a registrar, governmental official or functionary performs the wedding.  You may ask whether this is legally binding... Yes, it absolutely is, a civil wedding is 100% legally bound. Alas, no, that is not the follow-up film to Legally Blonde - one can wish... Some people have a religious ceremony that either precedes or follows the civil ceremony. Many couples, however, choose to have a civil ceremony as their only ceremony.

:the grange hampshire Steph Newton Photography 411
Civil wedding ceremony in an industrial wedding venue with bride in an off the shoulder wedding dress
Boho Scottish Civil wedding ceremony with orange and dried grass column wedding flowers
Civil wedding ceremony at Nancarrow Farm with flower girl as the ring bearer

What kind of venue do you need?

Luckily for you, your venue options are fairly open. Civil ceremonies can take place at a registry office in England and Wales. An approved venue for civil marriage can also be used. Such venues include the likes of hotels, country houses, barns, restaurants, etc. A lot of wedding venues have licensed areas for ceremonies too. Woohoo! Deciding whether you have your ceremony and reception at the same place is up to you entirely. 

Elegant black-tie wedding at Northbrook Park with bride in a fitted off the shoulder wedding dress
Devonshire Terrace Wedding in London with drapes, greenery and dried grasses
Brighton Bandstand wedding with dried grasses and lace wedding dress
Iscoyd Park Civil Wedding ceremony with kazoos

What actually happens?

The registrar will have a meeting before the ceremony. This is just to make sure that everything is in order and the day will go smoothly. Then, the ceremony begins. A standard civil wedding ceremony is usually pretty quick. They average between 20-30 minutes. If you want a shorter ceremony (and perhaps a bigger party...) this time frame is perfect. However, some couples decide to incorporate poems, readings, and music into the service to elongate the nuptials.

At a civil wedding, couples must exchange vows. This ensures that they are legally married. Once they've been exchanged and everyone is feeling emotional, the couple is declared married. Following this, they must sign the register. Two witnesses and the registrar must be present for this. After all of this, you're officially married! Party time! You can take photos, cry and throw the confetti...Whatever you fancy. Enjoy the first few moments of married life together!

Woodland civil wedding ceremony with a wooden altar and flower installation
Bride in a lace long sleeve wedding dress and flower crown smiling holding hands with her groom during the civil wedding ceremony
Black bride in a layered tulle Story Of My Dress bridal gown at 100 Barrington civil wedding ceremony
Lesbian wedding at Elmore Court with two brides in lace and tulle dresses

What is the difference between a civil wedding ceremony and a wedding?

Understandably, the difference between a civil wedding ceremony and a wedding can be confusing. So, let's break it down! The main difference lies in that marriage is formed by vows. It's also usually performed in a religious ceremony. Following this is signing a marriage certificate. As for a civil wedding ceremony, the union becomes cemented by signing a civil partnership certificate. It's also, as we said, non-religious.

Outdoor wedding with sign language civil wedding ceremony
Pennard House outdoor wedding ceremony with bride in a beaded wedding dress with long sleeves
British Muslim bride holding hands with her groom at an outdoor wedding ceremony
Cripps Barn civil wedding with bride in a fishtail wedding dress and natural wedding flowers

So, there you have it, the low-down on civil wedding ceremonies. Hopefully, this article has helped you in terms of understanding or preparing for this kind of ceremony. If wedding vow writing is proving troublesome, we've got some great information on that. Wanting to add some music to your ceremony, but not sure where to start? Maybe try out some Bridgerton tunes. Finally, if you're stuck on wedding readings, our article on just that is right at your fingertips. Until next time!


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