Legal Weddings

Getting married in Northern or the Republic of Ireland???

Probably the least exciting part of all the pre wedding planning and the one that couples really want some support through is the legal marriage application process, when to apply, who to apply to and what you MUST have on the day of the wedding to ensure that you are legally married.

Steps you need to take are a little different in both jurisdictions so to give you some guidance along the way I’ve created a little advice sheet. It’s not all-inclusive but there are contact details of the relevant bodies so you can contact them and of course I’m here to help you if you have any queries along the way.

These guidelines are for Legal marriage ceremonies, If you’d prefer to have a Registry Office wedding and then have a beautiful symbolic wedding accompanied by family and friends I’d be delighted to support you through that too.

The most important thing is to plan ahead, relax and enjoy the excitement.

Trisha

Getting Married in Northern Ireland

Please note this is just a guideline for couples – full and detailed information is available at
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk I would strongly advise each couple to check this site prior to
completing your notice form.
Full details in relation to legal age of marriage for couples with an address in the Republic of
Ireland, England or Wales along with other exceptions and any other information you may wish to check is available from this site.

Giving Notice

Each party must give notice of marriage on separate forms to the Registrar for the registration district in which the marriage is to take place. Notice forms can be
downloaded at
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/marriage-notice-form
The Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern
Ireland)2022 allows a couple to select a language for the certificate headings (including the marriage schedule) This can be in English, Irish or Bi-lingual English and Irish, You can
tick your preference
The notice form must be signed by the Officiant who is carrying out the ceremony and the
notice must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and the required documentation and current fees. The documentation required can be seen at
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/how-and-when-give-notice-marriage
Notice can be given in person, through a third party, by post or by email
A SCHEDULE CANNOT BE ISSUED UNTIL THE REQUIRED EVIDENCE IS PROVIDED PROVING
THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE FREE TO MARRY
Notice MUST be given to the Registrar at least 28 days before the date of the intended marriage. In exceptional circumstances – for example a party being terminally ill – the
Registrar General may consider a lesser notice period, Notices can be accepted by a
Registrar up to a year before the date of the intended ceremony- I would strongly recommend that you give your notices as early as possibly within this time period to avoid the stress of delays or issues in the month or two before your wedding. Couples have enough on their minds coming up to a wedding without that added worry
Ideally notices should be given from both parties that have not been married or in a civil
partnership should be submitted AT LEAST 8 weeks before proposed ceremony date and
at AT LEAST 10 weeks before if either party has been married or in a civil partnership previously
The Registrar can request that both parties attend the office for interview. If notices are received by post or email the Registrar will need to see one or both parties in person and
originals of the documentation before the Schedule is issued
The Registrar can still accept full notice from parties to a marriage without the full
complement of documentary evidence, but any outstanding evidence must be received before the Schedule can be issued
The Registrar receiving the notice of marriage may request specified evidence at any time
on or after the date of notice but before the marriage schedule is issued.
That evidence may include checks regarding impediments to marriage and immigration
status
Once notice is given, the details will be displayed in public view outside the registration office

Objections

If someone claims an objection to an impending marriage the Registrar will notify the parties and carry out further enquires.
The Registrar will also notify the Officiant of the objection and advise them NOT to solemnise the marriage, pending investigation being resolved

Issue of Marriage Schedule

A marriage Schedule is required before an Officiant can conduct a marriage ceremony

The Marriage Schedule will only be issued by the Registrar when proper notice has been given and the Registrar is satisfied that both parties are free to marry
The Registrar will issue the schedule 14 days prior to the date of the marriage. It is essential that at least one of the parties attend the registration office to collect the Schedule and to confirm that the details held by the Registrar are correct
It is the responsibility of the couple to ensure that the Schedule is given to the Officiant prior to the commencement of the marriage ceremony
NO SCHEDULE ON THE DAY MEANS YOU CANNOT BE MARRIED WITHOUT IT ,this is
“the signing of the register”

Return of Schedule

After the marriage ceremony, the Schedule must be signed and completed by the parties, Two
witnesses (over 16) and your Officiant who solemnised the marriage

The couple MUST arrange for the return of the Schedule to the Registrar within 3 working days of the ceremony to enable the marriage to be registered

THIS IS NOT THE RESPOBSIBILITY OF THE OFFICIANT

Once the marriage Schedule is returned to the register the registration of the marriage will be completed. The couple can obtain certificates with the headings in the language selected at the time of giving notice on payment of the required fee

Contact details
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/district-registrars-northern-ireland

General

Email
gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

Getting married in the Republic of Ireland

MRF (Marriage Registration Form)

If you’re planning a wedding in ROI, here’s all you need to know about the MRF (Marriage Registration Form) much better known as the famous “Green Folder”

How do I go about getting my MRF?

Book your marriage notification appointment, You do this by contacting any HSE Civil Registration
Service. It doesn’t have to be in the County you are getting married in, though it might be handier for
yourselves logistically if you booked in the same County.
You MUST give at least 3 months notice but my advice is to do it well before that deadline (you can
book your appointment online) It is recommended to make your appointment 10-12 months before
your intended wedding date as appointments can book up quickly.
Attend your appointment together (Both of you must attend in person), You will meet the registrar
and sign a declaration confirming there is no reason your marriage can’t go ahead) At this meeting
you will be asked for the names and details of both spouses, both witnesses and your chosen Solemniser (me)
When you have your meeting with the Registrar it is important that you tell the Registrar the correct
legal classification for your ceremony.
As an Entheos Ireland Solemniser we are classified as a Religious Solemniser on the HSE Register of Solemnisers, Our Services are classified as religious NOT civil ceremonies (this what allows us to be
inclusive & to include faith elements into the Ceremony if you want to have that
NB: WHEN FILLING IN YOUR FORM TO BOOK YOUR MARRIAGE NOTIFICATION FORM AS ABOVE YOUR
CLASSIFY AN ENTHEOS CELEBRANT AS A RELIGIOUS SOLEMNISER AS ABOVE AND WHEN COMPLETING THE PART THAT ASKS FOR RELIGIOUS ASKS FOR RELIGIOUS GROUP YOU SAY INTERFAITH ,this is purely to allow an Entheos Solemiser to include a religious element into a Ceremony if a couple choose it.
Just to stress again There is absolutely no need to include any religious element at all into you
Ceremony.
Receive your Marriage Registration Form (MRF).If everything is in order you will be given the MRF (green folder) this is the KEY document for your legal marriage. There is a €200 notification fee,
Normally you pay this at the appointment
Couples MUST give the MRF to me to check over before the ceremony (this is one of the reasons I like
to have a face to face meeting with you four to six weeks before the Wedding, as well as running through any last minute changes to the Ceremony etc)
BRING MRF WITH YOU TO THE CEREMONY, You cannot be legally married without it being signed
on the day, Once you have decided who your two witnesses are on the day stick with them. This is
the actual “signing the Register form “, both of you, your nominated witnesses (over 18) and myself sign on the day. Ladies you sign your maiden name or the name on the front of your MRF
Nominate a person (YOUR CELEBRANT DOESN’T DO THIS) who will look after your MRF on the
wedding day as you MUST return it to the registrar’s office within 30days (preferably well before the
deadline)
And that’s all you need to do, that’s the legal paperwork completed, once that’s done your marriage will be officially registered.

Congratulations, Trisha!