Officiants & Your Ceremony

Different Types of Marriage Ceremony in Scotland

When you start thinking about it, it can get quite confusing! Hopefully the following will help,

There are two types of legal marriage ceremony you can have in Scotland

• a civil ceremony – can take place in a registration office or anywhere (such as outside) as agreed with the Registrar, except religious premises. This is a non-religious ceremony conducted by a Registrar

• religious or belief ceremony – can take place anywhere by someone approved to conduct a ceremony. These ceremonies can be religious or non-religious, legal and symbolic (non-legal). Religious bodies include, but are not limited to, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities and organisations. Belief bodies include, but are not limited to, humanist, pagan, spiritualist, interfaith and agnostic communities and organisations and their ceremonies can be completely non-religious or contain elements of single or multi-faith religion, belief and spirituality.

For a non-religious wedding, both the Registrar and belief Celebrant will provide a similar type of wedding ceremony, hand-tying, drinking from the quaich and other elements. The difference is, a Registrar will be allocated to you from within the council area where you are getting married, will only meet you briefly before your wedding and the content of your ceremony will be fairly standard, although I’ve heard some lovely personal ones. For a belief Celebrant, you choose the Celebrant, they could be based anywhere, will take longer to get to know you, will write a very personal ceremony and some will get involved in more bespoke weddings (such as climbing hills) which a local Registrar may not do.

If you want a Registrar led wedding, you need to contact the Registry Office in the area where you are getting married and pay a deposit to book the date and you do this as early as possible to ensure you get a Registrar for the day. Later (12 weeks to 29 days before your wedding) you will pay the balance and send in your marriage paperwork (called the M10 form). You will probably have to meet the Registrar the day before your wedding to show your original paperwork (although this can be posted registered post and some may only meet you on the morning of your wedding).

For a Registrar led ceremony, your Registrar will bring your marriage schedule along on your wedding day and take it back with them after it is signed. You pay one fee (plus deposit and mileage costs) and that includes a Registrar on the day and your paperwork. Your marriage certificate will be posted to you by the Registry Office.

For a religious or belief Celebrant led ceremony, you choose and book the person you connect with and who will give you the ceremony you’re looking for. It is important to confirm that the officiant can conduct a legal wedding if that is what you are looking for. Nearer your wedding day (12 weeks to 29 days before your wedding) you send in your marriage paperwork to the local Registry Office (the M10 form). You will have to collect your marriage schedule the day (or few days) before from the Registry Office and show your original paperwork, and return your marriage schedule (or post it) back after your ceremony. A Celebrant led ceremony is often a little bit more expensive as you pay your Celebrant for their services (around £450+) and the Registry Office for your paperwork (£100 + postage currently). Your marriage certificate will be posted to you by the Registry Office.