Civil Wedding Ceremonies
When it comes to celebrating your union with the one you love most, there is more choice for your wedding ceremony than ever before. Traditionally in the UK, weddings were simple and arranged for either political, social or economic reasons. They were often held outside before the Church of England began regulating marriage in the 12th century, requiring an Anglican minister to officiate.
Nowadays, you can choose where your ceremony is held. From churches in family parishes, to mosques, temples and synagogues for those outside of the Christian faith, religious buildings are still important to couples with religious beliefs. However, the rise of civil weddings means happy couples can choose to marry at licensed venues such as hotels, event venues, public buildings and private stately homes, or at local registry offices. This opens a world of possibilities for those planning a wedding, enabling couples the freedom to select a venue that fits their preferences.
Getting Married in Cumbria
Civil ceremonies in Cumbria are organised through the registration services of Cumberland Council for those wanting to marry in Carlisle, West Cumbria and the Western Lake District, or Westmorland and Furness Council who cover the Eden Valley, the South Lakes, Barrow and the Furness peninsulas. Heather Glen Country House is a licensed wedding venue in the heart of the Eden Valley and as such getting married here requires a Cumbria registrar from Westmorland and Furness to officiate at your wedding.
What Is a Registrar?
A registrar is responsible for registering life events such as births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships. They are a DBS checked, government-appointed official who are legally authorised to work for the local authorities to carry out their registration duties.
What Does a Registrar Do?
A registrar is the person who will marry you in a civil wedding ceremony at a licensed wedding venue. They travel to approved venues to officiate over civil ceremonies and are responsible for ensuring a marriage is legally binding. Couples can also get married at a local registry office, where the ceremony will be conducted by a wedding registrar, too.
They’ll check the legal documents of those getting married, carry out the marriage ceremony, ensuring the legal vows are spoken and agreed to, and register the marriage afterwards.
Becoming a registrar doesn’t require any specialist skills or training, although strong administrative capabilities are preferable, as well as the professionalism to be able to deal with the emotional aspects of registering life’s big moments.
How Much Is a Registrar?
Each council sets their own fees, so the cost of a registrar will change depending on where you get married. In Cumbria, registrar fees are different depending on whether you get married in Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness, and whether you get married at a registry office or a licensed venue.
In each region, a non-refundable deposit is required, and dates can be changed but will incur an amendment fee. Westmorland and Furness require a deposit of £130 at the time of booking and the balance paid at least 12 weeks before the registrar’s wedding date.
It is also important to note that you must pay a fee to give notice of your intent to marry, which is £42 per person and needs to be applied for at least 29 days before you intend to marry (more information on this below). In addition to this, each copy of your marriage certificate will cost £12.50.
The table below shows the cost of a registrar when getting married at a licensed wedding venue in Westmorland and Furness.
| Type of Civil Ceremony at an Approved Venue | Cost |
| Traditional ceremony – Monday to Friday | £620 |
| Traditional ceremony – Saturdays | £730 |
| Traditional ceremony – Sundays and bank holidays | £785 |
| Bespoke ceremony – Monday to Friday | £715 |
| Bespoke ceremony – Saturdays | £840 |
| Bespoke ceremony – Sundays and bank holidays | £945 |
A traditional civil marriage ceremony, according to Westmorland and Furness Council, lasts up to 30 minutes and includes the traditional wedding script we’ve all heard before. Couples have the opportunity to include up to 2 readings or poems and can personalise vows to each other.
In contrast, a bespoke wedding ceremony can be up to an hour and can be tailored to your wishes. Your wedding script, vows, readings and gestures can be personalised in consultation with your wedding registrar.
How to Book a Registrar for Your Wedding – A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Check Legalities
For couples to legally get married, they must not be related, both be over 18 years old, not already married or in a civil partnership, be British or Irish citizens and live in England or Wales. Outside of these criteria, you’ll need to contact your local registration service to confirm your eligibility to marry.
2. Choose Your Venue
Hotel weddings or weddings at other approved venues offer the chance to celebrate your special day somewhere that suits your preferences, style and personalities. Weddings at Heather Glen Country House, for example, appeal to couples looking for rural tranquillity, a stunning natural setting and a dedicated venue that caters to both intimate and larger weddings, with accommodation on site.
We’d always recommend booking as far in advance as possible to ensure your preferred date and venue are available for your civil wedding.
3. Check Registrar Availability
Once you have confirmed your wedding venue, you’ll need to check the availability of the registrar in your chosen location and date. For Heather Glen, this would be via Westmorland and Furness Council. You can easily check availability online or call during work hours to discuss more bespoke requirements.
You can book your registrar up to 2 years before, but you can only give notice 12 months before, which is why we’ve included it in this order here. Upon booking your registrar, you will make a non-refundable deposit of £130, with the balance due by 12 weeks before the wedding.
4. Give Notice of Marriage
After you have decided on your venue, date and have checked registrar availability, you can give notice of your intent to marry. In the UK, this is called giving notice, but other countries refer to this as applying for a marriage license. This can be up to 12 months in advance and must be done in the district in which you reside. If you both live apart, notice can be given separately, but one of you must have resided in Westmorland and Furness for more than 7 days to be eligible to marry here.
To give notice of marriage, you both must attend an in-person appointment where your eligibility will be confirmed. You can book your appointment(s) online in advance, and they must be at least 29 days in advance of your civil wedding. You’ll need ID in the form of a passport or birth certificate and acceptable proof of your address, which can be found on the council website.
Giving notice for marriage will cost £42 per person and is paid at your appointment.
5. Confirm and Pay
Once you have given notice and had your appointment, the final step is paying the balance for your registrar, if you haven’t already. You can order your marriage certificate at the time of booking or after the registrar wedding.
Registrar FAQs for Cumbria Weddings
Getting married at an approved venue in Cumbria will be different to getting married at an approved wedding venue elsewhere, as councils have the freedom to dictate their own policies. As Cumbria is split into two districts, all the information we have amalgamated is for Westmorland and Furness only.
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Cumbria registrars to help guide you through the process of booking your civil marriage ceremony.
Will the registrar come to my venue?
Yes! When you book your registrar with Westmorland and Furness Council, you can choose to get married at the registry offices in Penrith, Kendal or Barrow-in-Furness, depending on where you live.
If you decide to get married at an approved venue such as Heather Glen, then the registrar will come to your venue in advance of your ceremony time. If you have booked a bespoke wedding ceremony, your registrar will in in touch before the wedding to discuss your personalised ceremony preferences, or you can call them to talk through your wishes.
What paperwork do I need?
You need to prove you are who you say you are and that you are eligible to marry before your wedding ceremony. This is done at your notice of marriage appointment, which will likely be held at the registry office nearest to where you live. You will need to bring your passport or birth certificate and proof of address or residency status. If you have additional requirements or further checks are needed, you’ll be guided as to what additional paperwork you’ll need to supply at the time of booking.
Can I personalise my civil ceremony?
Yes! A traditional civil ceremony allows for up to 2 readings or poems and your own vows, and a bespoke civil ceremony gives you the opportunity to create a tailored wedding service that is unique to you. You can discuss this with your registrar after booking.
What times are available for my registrar ceremony?
You can get married any day of the year apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Westmorland and Furness. Ceremonies are generally available between the hours of 9am – 4pm, depending on the availability of the registrar in Cumbria.
Civil Ceremonies at Heather Glen
Our overview of how to get married in Cumbria, specifically at Heather Glen Country House in the Westmorland and Furness district, should help you plan your civil wedding ceremony. The dedicated weddings team at Heather Glen are experienced at creating bespoke wedding ceremonies that cater to your personal requirements and love bringing together all the details that make each and every wedding unique.
Nestled in the heart of the Eden Valley in Cumbria, just north of Penrith and south of Carlisle, we offer easy access to both the Lake District and North Pennines from our own little tranquil retreat. What better place to get married than at an exceptional hotel in a simply stunning setting?
Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream civil wedding with us.
