How to Have a Civil Wedding in Ireland

Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2007 states that any person who intends to marry in Ireland, whether an Irish citizen or not, must get a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) from a Registrar. Also, whoever is solemnising the marriage must be on the Register of Solemnisers. Before being given a Marriage Registration Form, the couple must fulfill a three-month notification to the Registrar.

Venues

The civil ceremony must be held either in the office of a Registrar of Civil Marriages or in a different venue that is approved by a Registrar. A Registrar must also be available to solemnise the marriage.

For couples that want to marry in a venue outside of the Registry Office, they should contact the Registry Office of the district where the venue is located and have their chosen venue approved. A Registrar may have to inspect the venue before having it approved.

Places like marquees and private dwellings may not be accepted. Couples must have a look at the Guidelines for Marriage Venues for more information on what venue or location they should choose. Couples are also encouraged to present and have their wedding venue approved well in advance of their wedding date to unnecessary problems.

The couple must also be aware that there will be an extra fee if they would like to have a civil ceremony outside the Registry Office.

Marriage Registration Form

After having fulfilled the three-month notification, the Registrar will issue the couple with a Marriage Registration Form (MRF), which permits them to get married. The couple is to give the MRF to the Registrar solemnising the marriage before the ceremony.

As soon as the ceremony has ended, the MRF should be signed and filled out by the couple, their two witnesses and the Registrar solemnising the wedding. The Registrar will then register the marriage after the ceremony.

Marriage Ceremony

It is important that the Registrar solemnising the marriage should be on the Register of Solemnisers. There must also be two witnesses aged 18 or over during the wedding. In the ceremony the couple should make two declarations: 1) that they do not know of any impediment to the marriage 2)that they accept each other as husband and wife.

Rules

If the couple is getting married through a civil ceremony, whether in a Registry Office or an approved wedding venue, they should approach the Registrar of Civil Marriages for the district where they intend to marry so as to get information on how to proceed. The couple is not required to live or reside in the district they have chosen to get married in.

Find the most helpful wedding advice and wonderful wedding tips with WeddingsIreland.