Marrying in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the perfect place to get married whatever your taste and budget.  There are lots of venues to choose from ranging from the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, overlooking the whole city to vaulted cellars under the historic Royal Mile and from beautiful open gardens to rainforests! 

In Scotland you can choose to be married in a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony or a ceremony by certain belief systems. 

Where can you be married

An authorised Registrar conducts a civil ceremony in a Registrar's office or at an approved venue. A religious ceremony can be carried out by any authorised religious celebrant in any location.  A ceremony carried out by authorised celebrants of certain belief systems can also be conducted at any location.

Planning your wedding

There are several important things you need to do as soon as you  have decided to get married:

• contact the Registrar or celebrant to agree a date
• whichever type of ceremony you choose you must lodge your intention to marry with the Registrar in the the district which you are being married 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 sent out from any of the offices.  These marriage notice forms can be returned to the Registrar by hand or by post along with the necessary documents.  The minimum period of notice is 15 days – however we do recommend 4-6 weeks notice is given.
• If you are planning a religious or other belief system ceremony you will be required to attend the Registrars office a few days before the date of your marriage to pick up the marriage schedule, which will allow the marriage to proceed.
• If you are having a civil ceremony we do not need to see you until the time of the ceremony.

Documents to be submitted for Marriage in Scotland

• birth certificate of bride and groom
• if either person has been married before proof that the previous marriage has ended
• if you are a widow or widower the death certificate of your former spouse
• if you are resident outside the United Kingdom or have resided in the UK for a short period of time and you are subject to the laws of another country, we will need a certificate of no impediment from your home country stating you are free to marry
• If either person is an EEA national (Including the UK) they will need to provide a passport or other document as proof of nationality
• If either person is a non EEA national they will be required to produce their passport containing a valid marriage visa or entry clearance as a fiance(e) or produce their passport containing an endorsement showing they have settled status in the UK or have a Home Office Certificate of Approval.

If any of these documents are not written in English you must provide a translated version.  All certificates must be originals and will be returned to you (except certificates of no impediment and the Home Office Certificate of Approval).

You will also need to pay the marriage fees, which you can download below.

You can get more information about the registration process by contacting any Registrars' Offices listed below or from the General Register Office for Scotland website.

Registrar's Office
Lothian Chambers, 59-63 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1RN
Telephone 0131 529 2600
Fax 0131 529 2613
email Registrars

The Leith Suite
Registrar’s Office
30 Ferry Road, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 4AE
Telephone 0131 554 8452
Fax 0131 554 6568
email  Registrars Leith

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

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

How do I obtain a certificate from a previously registered marriage?

If it was registered in Scotland you should complete an application for a marriage certificate</u>. This can be taken in person or posted to any of the offices listed above. The fee for this is  £13.50.   Alternatively you may telephone either the office at Lothian Chambers or Leith and order the certificate over the phone using a credit or debit card.

Downloads

Some of the files might be in PDF format - download Adobe Reader

Fees for non civil marriage (18 kB)