Marriage vows

If you wish to enhance your ceremony by the inclusion of additional words or poetry readings, the Superintendent Registrar will be happy to discuss your requirements.  The Superintendent Registrar will also consider any other requests you may have to make your day more memorable. 

We regret that the law prevents us from including any religious content in a Civil Marriage Ceremony. 

The marriage suite is equipped with a sound system and you can request music of your choice, either on compact disc or cassette, at the wedding.

We will make every effort to ensure that your wedding day is enjoyable and will do everything we can to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere on your special day. 

To find out how to personalise your ceremony please click here.

The Marriage Ceremony
Once you and your guests are seated, the Superintendent Registrar will say a few words of welcome, and then begin the ceremony as follows:

This place in which we are now met has been duly sanctioned, according to law, for the celebration of marriages. You are here today to witness the joining in matrimony of ? and ?

If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, he or she should declare it now.

Bridge and groom stand

? and ?, before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage according to the law of this country is the union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others.

Now I am going to ask each of you in turn to declare that you know of no lawful reason why you should not be married to each other.

Will the bridegroom please say the following words after me.

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I ? may not be joined in matrimony to ?

And now the bride. (repeat above)

Now the moment has come for ? and ? to contract their marriage before you, their witnesses, family and friends. Will you all please stand?

Rings may be exchanged by the bride and groom.

Will the bridegroom please say the following words after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage and I call upon these persons here present to witness that I ? do take thee ? to be my lawful wedded wife. 

And now the bride. (repeat above)

? and ? you have both made the declarations prescribed by law and have made a solemn and binding contract in the presence of your witnesses here today.

It gives me great pleasure to declare that you are now husband and wife.