Ceremonies

Registration services

Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales

Statutory ceremonies require two witnesses, in addition to the couple, and are conducted in our small register office, within our Trowbridge office. These can only be booked on Tuesday mornings.

If you require urgent assistance to organise a Registrar General's licence ceremony (where one party is terminally ill) contact our ceremonies team via email: ceremonies@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window), or telephone 0300 003 4570.

Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership Appointment

Giving notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership - guidance for couples who wish to marry, or form a civil partnership.

Ceremony at your local registration office

All Wiltshire Council sites are now smoke-free, both inside and outside the buildings.

This ceremony has been put together by our professional, caring and dedicated Ceremonies Team and it includes vows, promises, music and readings.

Our ceremony rooms

Ceremony at an approved venue

This ceremony includes vows, promises, music and readings as well as more freedom and choice to make it unique and personal to you.

Approved venues

Combination ceremony

Do you have your heart set on a venue for your ceremony only to find out that it isn't licensed for marriages?

Would you like to hold your ceremony in a family garden or in a marquee?

Combining a small legal ceremony with a second ceremony, personalised to your own specifications and wishes, at the venue you have booked. Both can be conducted on the same day or on separate days but must be conducted within 28 days of each other. Where possible, the same registrar will attend both of your celebrations.

Civil partnership

The law in this country enables couples to choose between entering into marriage or forming a civil partnership. If you have decided you would prefer a civil partnership our registration team will be happy to work with you to create a unique and individual ceremony to make your day very special.

You can choose to form your partnership at a Registration Office or Approved Venue. You may also wish to consider our Combination Ceremony.

Conversion of a civil partnership to marriage

You can simply book an appointment to attend our Chippenham, Salisbury or Trowbridge Registration offices and complete the conversion paperwork.

Then if you choose:

We can complete your conversion process with a celebratory ceremony for you, your family and friends at a Registration Office or venue of your choice.

Conversion of a Civil Partnership to marriage is available for same sex couples only who formed a civil partnership from December 2005 onwards

Celebration of marriage

Who can have one?

couples that have already legally married or registered their civil partnership, we simply need you to provide us with a copy of your marriage certificate.
it's a great way to commemorate a special anniversary by renewing your vows
if you married abroad or quietly in this country you may want to celebrate your union in the presence of wider family and friends
if you are converting a civil partnership to marriage and want to share the moment with those who are important to you
celebrate your renewed commitment to each other

Let us create a individual and exclusive ceremony for you where you will have the opportunity to declare your love and commitment to each other again in a venue of your choice.

Welcoming ceremony

A Welcoming or Naming ceremony provides a unique opportunity to make promises to guide, nurture and protect your child. It can include promises from specially chosen adults to show how much this child means to them and to offer you their support in your child's future.

a personal, relaxed and happy ceremony, tailored to your wishes
held wherever and whenever you choose
children of any age can have a Welcoming Ceremony
if you have more than one child they can all take part in the same ceremony
you can combine this ceremony with other ceremonies

What could be more special than welcoming a child into a family? Whether a new baby or an older child, this is a time to celebrate.

Online ceremony arrangements planner

Once you have booked your marriage ceremony with us, you can use our online planner to keep on track with your ceremony. You will be able see what stage you are at, when your marriage Schedule is ready and when payment needs to be made. You will also be able to tell us about your ideas and preferences for your ceremony, and use the facility to write your personalised ceremony yourselves.

Go to the planner page

Registrations frequently asked questions

A ceremony conducted by an independent celebrant is not legally recognised in this country.

We can offer seven beautiful ceremony rooms located within our main registrations offices throughout the county.

Our ceremony rooms