How to Get Legally Married in Aberdeen

The Date

The first decision you need to make before calling them is, do you want the Civil Marriage before or after your Ceremony with the celebrant. It makes no difference to our Ceremony whichever way you decide; you can even do it on the same day, get an early slot at the registry office, and we can do that.

Go ready with the date you want to carry out the Civil Ceremony.

Do you want to be legally married before you have the party, or does that matter, if not, then you do it afterwards.

You have to pay £55 to confirm that date with the Registrar, which is non-refundable.

What paperwork do we need?

You need to complete an M10 form for each of you, along with the marriage registration form. The marriage registration form asks for your witness’s names and home addresses.

Link to the M10 form here 

Link to Marriage Registration form here 

You need to submit all these to the Registry office anything from 3 months before your wedding date but no later than 29 days. 

Currently, in Aberdeen, you need to hand your paperwork in at the front door of Marshall College in a sealed envelope clearly marked for “Registrar of births, deaths and marriages” between 9am-1pm Monday-Friday.

What do we need to submit?

These are the documents that you need to have inside your sealed envelope when you pass It into Marshall College.

• Original birth certificate
•  Passport
•  Proof of address (council tax bill, bank statement or utility bill no older than three months)
•  If you have been married before, then a copy of your decree of divorce, or if widowed, a copy of your partner’s death certificate.

What do we book?

You want to book the private Ceremony that is for four people (the couple and two witnesses), which costs £155

The Registrar will ask you where you want to hold the Ceremony. The cheapest option is Marischal College.

What do we need to take on the day?

You don’t need to take anything other than your witnesses. You don’t have to say your vows or anything you are doing in your Ceremony, so just the 4 of you needed.

What should I wear?

You don’t need to be in your wedding outfit unless you want to. You can be formally dressed or turn up in your jeans and leather jacket for this bit if that’s how you want it.

Should we celebrate the signing?

This would depend on when you’re doing your Civil Ceremony.  If your doing it on the same day as your wedding, then you’ve already arranged the celebrations.

If you are going to do it before or just after the ceremony, you could organise a wee lunch for you and your witnesses to attend and have a wee celebratory drink.

I hope this explains the legal paperwork side of things for you; it’s relatively easy and speedy.

I can guide you through the whole process and even accompany you if you want, so don’t let this put you off having the wedding of your dreams.

Think of this part as the marriage and your Ceremony as your party.