Civil weddings

A civil marriage is a non-religious ceremony carried out by an authorised Registrar.  It can be held in a Registrar's office or an approved venue. In Scotland you can be married wherever you choose regardless of where you live.  You may book a civil marriage in the Registrar's offices at

Please note that there is a strict appointment system at these offices

Lothian Chambers, 59-63 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1RN
Telephone 0131 529 2600
Fax 0131 529 2613
e-mail Registrars Lothian Chambers

The Leith Suite
30 Ferry Road, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 4AE
Telephone 0131 554 8452
Fax 0131 554 6568
e-mail Registrars Leith

Registrar's Office
Kirkliston Council Office, 19 Station Road, Kirkliston EH29 9BD
Telephone 0131 333 3210

Registrar's Office
Queensferry Council Office, 53 High Street, South Queensferry EH30 9HP
Telephone 0131 331 1590

What is involved in a civil marriage?

Before the marriage

The first thing you need to do is contact the Registrar's office where you wished to be married to make sure that they have an appointment available on the date you want. You may make a booking over the telephone.  If you are being married in an approved venue, you should contact the venue who will give you the form necessary to book a Registrar. This form must be returned to the office at Lothian Chambers.

Regardless of where you are being married you have to lodge your intention to marry with the Registrar about four to six weeks before the date of your marriage.  The marriage notice form may be downloaded from the General Register Office for Scotland or issued from any Registrar's office.

These marriage notice forms can be returned to the Registrar by post along with the necessary documents – see marrying in Edinburgh

If you are marrying in a registrar's office

Before the ceremony

The bride and groom will be interviewed privately either together or individually to make sure that the details that will be entered into the marriage register are correct.  The Registrar will also explain what will happen at the ceremony and answer any questions.

The ceremony

If you are being married in a civil marriage in Edinburgh you may choose to have the Registrar’s ceremony which many people find more than exceeds their expectations  or

You may choose to have the Registrar's ceremony and insert additional reading or poems   or

You may choose to write your own ceremony and the Registration staff will be happy to advise you on this.

However there are certain legal declarations which you will have to say and, as you are having a civil marriage, you will not be able to have any religious content in the ceremony.

The usual format of a marriage ceremony is the Registrar will begin with a welcome to you and your guests followed by a short introduction reminding you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are going to make to each other.  Next you will be asked to repeat your declarations.  Once this is done you may exchange wedding rings if you want and the Registrar will declare you husband and wife.  You and your two witnesses will sign the marriage schedule.

The ceremony lasts about 15 minutes but this can vary depending on what you choose to include in your ceremony.

After the ceremony

If you are being married in the Registrar's Office, the Registrar will go and register your marriage and prepare your certificate, which you can take away with you.  During this time you will have the opportunity to take photographs.

If you are being married in an approved venue, the Registrar will leave you with your guests and return to the Registrar's Office where your marriage will be registered and your marriage certificate sent out to you.

A few dos and don'ts when being married in the Registrars Office

Do

• book early to get the time and date you want
• make sure you lodge all the necessary documents with the Registrar at least 15 days before the ceremony and make sure all the fees are paid
• ask the Registrar if there is anything about the ceremony you are unsure of
• let the staff know if you have any special requests. We will do our best to accommodate them
• ask your guests not to throw confetti, rice, petals etc as we don't have time to clean the room between weddings (and they may be fined for dropping litter outside)
• tell your guests that the Registrar's offices do not permit smoking
• most important of all, enjoy your day!

Don't

• arrive too early.  Your guests should arrive about 10 minutes before the ceremony
• arrive late - the offices are busy and your ceremony may have to be postponed
• exceed the number of guests allowed in the room
• worry about any aspect of the ceremony – if there is anything you are unsure of please telephone and we will do our best to help you.

Civil marriage requirements form (69 kB)

List of approved venues (43 kB)

Fees Civil Marriages Approved Venues (48 kB)

Fees Civil Marriages Registrar offices (35 kB)