The introduction of the Marriage Schedule System is part of the Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019.
Marriages are now registered on an electronic register rather than a paper register. This will ensure 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.
What will happen 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.
Marriages in religious buildings (not Church of England)
- Couples will need to arrange to collect the marriage schedule for their ceremony to take place. Please check with your minister who is collecting the schedule, as occasionally the minister may collect the schedule for you. If you are subject to immigration control you cannot collect the schedule and the minister must do this for you.
- 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. You must apply online for a certificate after seven working days from the date of your ceremony.
- 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).
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. You must apply online for a certificate after seven working days from the date of your ceremony.
- 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.
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.
Couples will need to speak to the High Commissions of the countries concerned for further advice or check on GOV.UK for further information.