Religious Marriages
Religious marriages can take place in a church or anywhere in Carrickfergus, provided you have the approval of the appropriate religious body.
You will each have to complete a Marriage Notice Form and deliver or post them to the Registrar of the district in which your marriage will be solemnised, along with the appropriate fees and documents.
For example if your marriage is to be solemnised in Carrickfergus but you live in Newtownabbey, you will need to complete you marriage notice forms and return to Carrickfergus.
If you have been divorced outside the United Kingdom, you must also fill in a foreign divorce form and return it along with you marriage documents.
A booklet Guidance on Marriage Procedures in Northern Ireland can be obtained from any Registrar’s Office.
CHOOSING AN OFFICIANT
A religious marriage can only be solemnised by an officiant who is authorised under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. You should contact the officiant of your choice well in advance of your chosen date and ask them to sign the marriage notice forms.
MARRIAGE SCHEDULE
Once your marriage notice forms have been returned to the Registrar, a marriage schedule will be prepared. This cannot be issued more than 14 days before your wedding and you will be informed when it will be ready for collection.
Either you or your partner must collect your schedule in person it can not be collected by any other person.
ON THE DAY
You must give your schedule to the officiant before the ceremony.
Once the ceremony has finished, the schedule must be signed by bride and groom by the witnesses and by the person who has solemnised your marriage.
You must then arrange for it to be returned to the Registrar within 3 days of the ceremony, so that your marriage can be registered and a certified copy issued.
There is a charge of £40 plus £8 for copy of Marriage Certificate.
For further information please contact:
The Registrar
Telephone: 028 9335 8000
E-Mail: registrar@carrickfergus.org
