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Make your ceremony choices

Personalise Your Ceremony


We are happy to assist with every step of your ceremony choices. If you would like to clarify anything, or discuss your requirements, please call us on 01452 425060 (option 3) or email ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Please read the guidance below before completing your ceremony choices online through your Ceremony Portal.  

Please be aware that after submitting your choices you will not be able to make any changes online. Please email the ceremonies team at ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk with any additional information or to advise of any changes you wish to make.

This guidance will help you fill in your form accurately and the result will enable the registration service to provide you with the ceremony of your choice.

Guidance by section

Full name – this is your full name you gave when you attended your local register office to give notice of marriage.

Informal name – this is the name you would like to be referred to in the non-legal parts of the ceremony (i.e. full name David, informal name Dave). If you do not use an informal name, please just enter your first name here.

Number of guests – This needs to be entered as a number and include everyone who is expected to attend your ceremony. Please check with your venue for maximum number permitted.

Are you having bridesmaids, pageboys, supporters or ushers etc? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'.

Number of bridesmaids etc – please only include the number of people who will make an entrance into the ceremony room with you e.g., bridesmaids, flower girls, ushers, page boys etc. Names of attendants are not required, number only.

Tick the box to confirm your music choices are non-religious.

Please note: all music played must be non-religious - this is essential as religious music is not permitted during your ceremony. 


We do not need to know which tracks you have chosen. When thinking about your music choices we would advise the following:


β€’    3 or 4 tracks to play whilst your guests are assembling
β€’    If someone is making an entrance into the room, you may want a special song to be played for this
β€’    2 or 3 songs for the time you are signing the register
β€’    1 song for the couple to exit the room
β€’    If you are having live musicians, please inform us by sending an email or message through your ceremony portal. 


If you are marrying in one our register offices, you will need to provide your own music:

  • Please bring your music on the day of your ceremony on a digital device, such as a tablet, mobile phone, or similar.
  • You will also need to bring a wireless speaker.
  • You will need to nominate a guest to be responsible for operating your device.
  • Please note devices cannot be plugged in.

If you are marrying at one of our approved premises, please contact your venue to arrange the playing of the music.

Full name of the person who will be responsible for the rings (if applicable) - First name and Surname is sufficient. Please enter N/A if you are choosing not to have anyone in this role.

Full name of Witness 1 and 2 – First name and Surname is sufficient.

Video and Photography - answer 'Yes' or 'No' and provide their name if applicable.

Ceremony Livestream – answer β€˜Yes’ or β€˜No’ and provide person responsible if applicable.

Request guests not to take photographs or post images online – answer β€˜Yes’ or β€˜No’.

Do you plan to have any animals at your ceremony? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'. If the answer is 'Yes', please provide as much information as possible. Please note: only assistance dogs are allowed in Registration Offices.

Will the couple kiss at the conclusion of the ceremony? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'.  If yes, then the traditional words will be spoken by the registrar, offering you to kiss each other.

How would you like to be announced at the end of the ceremony? – this is not a legal announcement but is used at the end of the ceremony.  For example: Bride & Groom, The Newlyweds, Mr and Mr Smith, Sarah & Jane, or any other formation that you would like.

Full name – this is your full name you gave when you attended your local register office to give notice of marriage.

Informal name – this is the name you would like to be referred to in the non-legal parts of the ceremony (i.e. full name David, informal name Dave). If you do not use an informal name, please just enter your first name here.

Number of guests – This needs to be entered as a number and include everyone who is expected to attend your ceremony. Please check with your venue for maximum number permitted.

Are you having bridesmaids, pageboys, supporters or ushers etc? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'.

Number of bridesmaids etc – please only include the number of people who will make an entrance into the ceremony room with you e.g., bridesmaids, flower girls, ushers, page boys etc. Names of attendants are not required, number only.

Tick the box to confirm your music choices are non-religious.

Please note: all music played must be non-religious - this is essential as religious music is not permitted during your ceremony. 


We do not need to know which tracks you have chosen. When thinking about your music choices we would advise the following:


β€’    3 or 4 tracks to play whilst your guests are assembling
β€’    If someone is making an entrance into the room, you may want a special song to be played for this
β€’    2 or 3 songs for the time you are signing the register
β€’    1 song for the couple to exit the room
β€’    If you are having live musicians, please inform us by sending an email or message through your ceremony portal. 


If you are marrying in one our register offices, you will need to provide your own music:

  • Please bring your music on the day of your ceremony on a digital device, such as a tablet, mobile phone, or similar.
  • You will also need to bring a wireless speaker.
  • You will need to nominate a guest to be responsible for operating your device.
  • Please note devices cannot be plugged in.

If you are marrying at one of our approved premises, please contact your venue to arrange the playing of the music.

Full name of the person who will be responsible for the rings (if applicable) - First name and Surname is sufficient. Please enter N/A if you are choosing not to have anyone in this role.

Full name of Witness 1 and 2 – First name and Surname is sufficient.

Video and Photography - answer 'Yes' or 'No' and provide their name if applicable.

Ceremony Livestream – answer β€˜Yes’ or β€˜No’ and provide person responsible if applicable.

Request guests not to take photographs or post images online – answer β€˜Yes’ or β€˜No’.

Do you plan to have any animals at your ceremony? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'. If the answer is 'Yes', please provide as much information as possible. Please note: only assistance dogs are allowed in Registration Offices.

Will the couple kiss at the conclusion of the ceremony? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'.  If yes, then the traditional words will be spoken by the registrar, offering you to kiss each other.

How would you like to be announced at the end of the ceremony? – this is not a legal announcement but is used at the end of the ceremony.  For example: Bride & Groom, The Newlyweds, Mr and Mr Smith, Sarah & Jane, or any other formation that you would like.

For your ceremony script the wording is broken down into different sections and for each section, there are various wording options to choose from. Read carefully what is in the boxes and select the relevant option that relates to your choice. 

Where you have selected to write your own promises or ring vows you will find text boxes for you to type the full wording.

Alternatively, you can email the full wording of your promises and/or ring vows to the ceremonies team at ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk.  Please ensure this reaches us no later than three months before your ceremony date.

We welcome these personal touches from you for your special day, and we will work with you to ensure they are seemly and dignified as appropriate for the occasion. Please note, our decision on what is deemed seemly and dignified will be final.

Will you enter together? - Are the two people who are getting married entering the ceremony room together and, if that is the case, seeing each other before the ceremony starts. Answer 'Yes' or 'No'.

Accompanied into the ceremony room - As an alternative to a formal giving away, you could choose to be accompanied into the ceremony room by a family member or friend. No words are spoken.

Will Partner 1 be accompanied into the ceremony room? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'. 

Giving Away - You can choose for either one or both of you to be formally given away by a family member or friend. 

Will Partner 1 be formally given away? - answer 'Yes or 'No'. 

A text box will appear, please enter the name of the person accompanying or giving away Partner 1.  The same applies to the next question regarding Partner 2.

Are you having readings at your Ceremony?

Title/s, Author, read by and the FULL text of your reading/s – Please copy and paste or type the information and full text of your reading/s into the box(es) provided.

Please note: all readings must be non-religious. This is essential as religious readings are not permitted during a civil ceremony. 

Any important information we should know, or details of any further additions to your ceremony? - This is an opportunity for you to let us know special information, for example one of you needs to sit throughout the ceremony, voice recording etc. If you are planning to have any additions to your ceremony, such as a handfasting or ring warming, please provide us with as much information as you can for our consideration. If we need more detail from you, we will be in touch. If you do not have anything to inform us about just leave the box empty.

For your ceremony script the wording is broken down into different sections and for each section, there are various wording options to choose from. Read carefully what is in the boxes and select the relevant option that relates to your choice. 

Where you have selected to write your own promises or ring vows you will find text boxes for you to type the full wording.

Alternatively, you can email the full wording of your promises and/or ring vows to the ceremonies team at ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk.  Please ensure this reaches us no later than three months before your ceremony date.

We welcome these personal touches from you for your special day, and we will work with you to ensure they are seemly and dignified as appropriate for the occasion. Please note, our decision on what is deemed seemly and dignified will be final.

Will you enter together? - Are the two people who are getting married entering the ceremony room together and, if that is the case, seeing each other before the ceremony starts. Answer 'Yes' or 'No'.

Accompanied into the ceremony room - As an alternative to a formal giving away, you could choose to be accompanied into the ceremony room by a family member or friend. No words are spoken.

Will Partner 1 be accompanied into the ceremony room? - answer 'Yes' or 'No'. 

Giving Away - You can choose for either one or both of you to be formally given away by a family member or friend. 

Will Partner 1 be formally given away? - answer 'Yes or 'No'. 

A text box will appear, please enter the name of the person accompanying or giving away Partner 1.  The same applies to the next question regarding Partner 2.

Are you having readings at your Ceremony?

Title/s, Author, read by and the FULL text of your reading/s – Please copy and paste or type the information and full text of your reading/s into the box(es) provided.

Please note: all readings must be non-religious. This is essential as religious readings are not permitted during a civil ceremony. 

Any important information we should know, or details of any further additions to your ceremony? - This is an opportunity for you to let us know special information, for example one of you needs to sit throughout the ceremony, voice recording etc. If you are planning to have any additions to your ceremony, such as a handfasting or ring warming, please provide us with as much information as you can for our consideration. If we need more detail from you, we will be in touch. If you do not have anything to inform us about just leave the box empty.

Once you have chosen and completed everything you will have a chance to view what you have selected.

Please remember that you will not be able to make any changes online once you have clicked the final submit button.

If you have any questions regarding the completion of your ceremony choices, please do not hesitate to contact the ceremonies team on 01452 425060 (option 3) or email us at ceremony@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Please complete your ceremony choices online through your Ceremony Portal. You will receive an email with your login details, making it quicker and easier to manage bookings.