Changes to how marriages are registered

What is changing?

The act will modernise how marriages are registered for the first time since 1837. The new system will introduce an electronic register. It will move away from the current paper register to a more secure system for keeping marriage records, that is also more efficient and far simpler to administer and amend, if necessary, in the future.

The electronic register will also allow for the names of parents of the couple to be included in the marriage entry and on marriage certificates, instead of only their fathers’ names as is currently the case.

When is this happening?

This will be implemented from 4 May 2021.

What if we've already given notice?

For all couples who have already given a notice of marriage, we will write to you to explain these new procedures.

What will change at a ceremony?

Ceremonies at our venues and approved marriage and civil partnership venues

• Couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage schedule which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to four parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate ie mother, father, stepmother and stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage these will be processed within seven days which is the guidance from the General Register Office. Your certificate therefore will be posted out to you within seven days from the date your marriage has been registered.

More information about getting married in a civil building, such as a Register Office or hotel from 4 May 2021.

Marriages in religious buildings (not Church of England)

• From the date of implementation, if they have already collected their Certificates for Marriage (blue paperwork) couples will need to arrange to collect the marriage schedule for their ceremony to take place. This will replace the ‘blue forms’ that may have already been issued as these will no longer be in use from the 4 May 2021.  Please contact the marriages section by emailing marriages@salford.gov.uk to make arrangements to collect the new schedule for marriage. We will also contact those couples affected to ensure the new schedule document is collected prior to the date of the ceremony.
• On the day of the ceremony, couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage schedule which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to four parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate ie mother, father, stepmother and stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage. However, you can pre-order a marriage certificate and pay for this so that the certificate can be posted out to you at the earliest opportunity from the date the marriage is registered. You can do this by emailing marriages@salford.gov.uk to submit your request and a registrar will contact you for payment.  Alternatively, if you are giving notice of marriage at Salford Register Office, you can order and pay for your certificates at the time of your appointment to give notice.
• Couples are expected to return the signed schedule to the Register Office in the district where the marriage took place within 21 days. Alternatively, the responsible person who has conducted your ceremony can return the signed schedule to the Register Office.

More information about getting married in a religious building (other than the Church of England / Church of Wales) from 4 May 2021.

Church of England marriages

• On the day of the ceremony, couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage document which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to 4 parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate i.e. Mother, Father, Stepmother and Stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage.  However, you can pre-order a marriage certificate and pay for this so that the certificate can be posted out to you at the earliest opportunity from the date the marriage is registered.  You can do this by emailing marriages@salford.gov.uk to submit your request and a registrar will contact you for payment. 
• Couples are expected to return the signed marriage document to the Register Office in the District where the marriage took place within 21 days. Alternatively, the responsible person who has conducted your ceremony can return the signed schedule to the Register Office.

More information about getting married in a Church of England or Church of Wales church from 4 May 2021.

Marriage of British Subjects Facilities Acts (BSFA)

There will no longer be any provision to give notice to marry in countries that were formerly covered by these acts and therefore transitional arrangements will apply to couples who have already given notice to marry here or in one of the relevant countries after the implementation date.

For BSFA notices given in advance of the implementation date, for a marriage in one the counties covered by these acts an authority may still issue their certificate, subject to the usual caveats about marrying in these countries. On or after the implementation date, couples will need to speak to the High Commissions of the countries concerned for further advice.

For BSFA notices given abroad for marriages in England and Wales then both parties will need to give notice under the Marriage Schedule System, most likely at a Designated Register Office and may in some instances need to apply for a waiver.