Latest update for Notices, Marriages and Civil Partnerships ceremonies

The Government has announced its plan to legalise outdoor civil marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales for the first time.  The changes will allow legal outdoor civil marriages and civil partnership registrations to take place within the grounds of approved premises.  The regulations will come into force on 1 July 2021.

This means that from 1 July civil marriages and civil partnerships can take place fully outdoors or under a partially covered structure if this has at least a 50% open area within the grounds of approved premises, providing greater flexibility for couples in how they choose to celebrate their marriage or civil partnership.  The change applies to existing approved premises and new applications.

We are currently working through the detail of this announcement and will update our website with further details in due course. It is important to note that we are already fully booked for popular dates and times due to the ongoing effects of Covid-19.  Please contact your venue in the first instance if you have any enquiries.

Update for Marriage & Civil Partnerships Ceremonies.

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister on 15^th June 2021, Marriage and Civil Partnership ceremonies from 21^st June 2021 to 18^th July 2021 will go ahead with social distancing measures remaining in place, therefore room capacities continue to be reduced.  Please note the following details are subject to review and may change depending on any future government announcements:

Register Office Ceremony Rooms:

• Shire Hall* (Gloucester) – Maximum persons = 33 people made up of 2 Registration Officers, the couple and 29 guests.

  Please note that the fixed layout is set as 6 rows of 4 chairs, 1 row of 3 chairs and 1 row of 2 chairs.  The rows will allow for one household or support bubble to sit together.  This layout cannot be re-arranged at any point and you must arrange your household seating within this set-up.   Please click here to view the floor plan.

• Old Victorian School (Stroud) - Maximum persons = 34 people made up of 2 Registration Officers, the couple and 30 guests.

  Please note that the fixed layout is set as 6 rows of 4 chairs and 2 row of 3 chairs.  The rows will allow for one household or support bubble to sit together.  This layout cannot be re-arranged at any point and you must arrange your household seating within this set-up.  Please click here to view the floor plan.

   

• The Oaks (Cinderford) – Maximum persons = 27 people made up of 2 Registration Officers, the couple and 23 guests

  Please note that the fixed layout is set as 1 row of 7 chairs and 4 rows of 3 chairs.  The rows will allow for one household or support bubble to sit together.  This layout cannot be re-arranged at any point and you must arrange your household seating within this set-up.  Please click here to view the floor plan.

Please note: *Shire Hall ceremonies will be delivered in a licenced room for up to 33 persons.(29 guests) The availability of the licenced rooms will dictate which one is used on the actual day of any ceremony.

The number of guests will remain as above in each of our ceremony rooms until further notice as the room can only hold the specified number of guests seated with social distancing measures in place.

Approved Venues:

• Monday 17^th May – Sunday 20^th June – ceremonies will be permitted with up to 30 people including the couple.
• Monday 21^st June – Sunday 18^th July – ceremonies will be permitted with the maximum number of guests based on social distancing – please check numbers and setups with your venue.
• Monday 19^th July onwards – numbers of attendees are not stipulated within the proposed roadmap.

Please note: COVID safe capacities will dictate these numbers at each venue and could be reduced. Government numbers must include all those at the ceremony (the couple, witnesses, and guests) but anyone working (e.g. registration officials or photographers) is not included in this limit and are in addition “only if” the assessed COVID safe room capacity allows this. The venue risk assessment and COVID safe room capacities must allow for all people in the room. Venues must ensure 2 registration officials, 2 witnesses and 1 responsible person are in attendance as this is mandatory for a legal marriage/civil partnership to take place.

If you need to postpone, amend or cancel your ceremony, please telephone us on 01452 425060 (option 3) or alternatively please email ceremonies@gloucestershire.gov.uk.  

Notice of Marriage / Civil Partnership

Notice of Marriage / Civil Partnership appointments have resumed in Gloucestershire.  Please telephone us on 01452 425060 (option 3) to check whether you can book as we are still prioritising appointments for imminent ceremonies.

Those couples who live outside of Gloucestershire should contact their local Register Office to find out what arrangements they have put in place for notices which need to be given.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of FAQ's with regards to ceremony advice with covid-19 please click here