Frequently asked questions

After you have booked your ceremony, you are both legally required to give a Notice of Marriage, in person at a designated register office in England or Wales for the district(s) in which you have lived for the proceeding eight nights immediately prior to giving your notices.

Please remember that your booking remains provisional until you’ve given notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership. 

What’s a ‘notice of intention’? It’s important to give notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership at least 29 days before the date of your ceremony (71 days before if either of you is subject to immigration control). Notice must be given by both of you, in person, at your local register office. 

Book your notice in Waltham Forest

If you are British or EEA national and live in Waltham Forest, you must give notice in Waltham Forest. If you don’t live in the Waltham Forest, you will need to give notice in the borough where you live. If one or both of you are non-British/non-EEA national and you live in Waltham Forest, you can give notice here as we are a designated register office. 
 

• British or EEA national must give notice at least 28 days before the ceremony. This should be in the borough that each of you live in, and you do not need to attend the appointment together.
• If one or both of you is a non-European Economic Area (EEA) citizen, (without specified immigration status) you must give notice at least 70 days before the ceremony. You can give notice at any designated office and must attend your appointment together.
• If one or both of you is housebound or detained in prison, we can arrange to visit you.
• we recommend that you give notice at least 3 months before your ceremony. If you don’t, you may have to change the date of your ceremony
• you can give notice up to 12 months before your ceremony date
   

Couples will need to bring certain documents with them to the appointment, this will depend upon personal circumstances.

British/EU citizens: You must both bring the following original documents to prove your name, age and nationality:
 

• Valid passport/ID card, or
• Full British birth certificate (if you were born after 1 January 1983 you must prove your parents' nationality with their long-form birth certificate)
• Proof of address for each person is required. This must be one of the following:   
  • Utility bill (gas, water or electricity) dated within the last 3 months
  • Council Tax bill (most recent)
  • Bank statement (dated within last month)
  • Mortgage statement (dated within the last 12 months)
  • Council/housing association tenancy agreement
  • Valid UK Driving Licence
  • Letter from the owner or proprietor

If you are a British/EU citizen and wish to marry a non-EEA citizen, you must both bring the following original documents:

• Proof of identity – valid passport
• Proof of address (as listed in previous section)
• A passport-sized picture each
• Proof of status/visa (evidence of settled or permanent residence, a marriage or civil partnership visa, or exemption from immigration control)

If you are divorced or have been widowed, you must bring the following documents:

• The decree absolute or final order
• The death certificate and/or marriage certificate of your former partner

If any of these documents are not in English, a certified translation of the documents will be required. 
 

In this instance, please contact us to see if we can help.

Notices cannot be extended. You will need to give notice again in this instance.

Same sex British civil partnerships can convert to a marriage, even if your civil partnership took place in another district, however international civil partnerships cannot be converted. If you would like to convert your civil partnership please contact our register office. 

Once you have legally registered a civil partnership, there are no further legal requirements and you don't have to have a ceremony, although you can choose to have one if you want.

No, there is no legal requirement for you to exchange rings at a marriage or civil partnership ceremony, even though most people do.

You can only have a maximum of two witnesses, therefore one each.

Registrars cannot provide witnesses or be witnesses themselves. Anyone can be witnesses, as long as they understand what they’re witnessing, they speak English and are of an age to understand the meaning and purpose of a marriage and civil partnership. 

We regret that pets and other animals are not allowed in the ceremony rooms. Assistance animals are an exception to this rule. There are a number of dog grooming facilities nearby, should your dog need to be looked after and spruced up for the reception after the ceremony.
 

Yes, we are happy to play your selected music for you. We can also guide you with a selection of music if you are unsure what to play.
 

You can’t have any music or readings of religious origin, so no Bible verses or hymns please.

The marriage ceremony will take approximately 20-30 minutes. The Registrar will make a short statement about marriage - and you can ask the registrar beforehand to indicate what form of words will be used - but remember that it’s not possible to use religious words or hymns in the ceremony. 
Each partner is required to repeat a standard set of vows. These may not be changed, but may be added to, as long as the additions are not religious. Rings are not required but can be exchanged if the couple wishes to.

For more information on any of the above, please contact us and we’d be delighted to talk you through the best option for your particular situation.
 

We have set aside times when we know that our spaces are available to be seen. Please pre-book an appointment and then we would be delighted to show you around. We also ask that if you feel unwell, then please reschedule your appointment.
 

Civil ceremonies can include readings, songs or music, but must not include anything that’s religious (for example hymns or readings from the Bible or the Torah). You can get a religious blessing of your marriage after a civil ceremony.
 

The fee includes your chosen venue, the set-up, the registrar, and a certificate.

We work with local florists and can arrange coordinate with them regarding your flower arrangements.

There are ramps leading into the Town Hall and once inside, we have a lift that gives you access to the floors open for events.

You and your guests should all arrive at least 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. 

Fellowship Square do not provide parking for wedding guests, however one space will be reserved for the ceremony vehicle.  LBWF is Climate Emergency Borough and we promote sustainable methods.

Please enter through the main doors and you will be met by one of the Fellowship Hosts and guided to the waiting room. Your guests will be directed to the room for your service. 

Neither you, your witnesses nor your guests need to bring anything with them on the day of the ceremony – just bring yourselves. No-one needs to bring ID as you’ve already shown your ID when you gave notice.

You have the options to add one or both parents and/or step parents. You will be asked to provide this information during the notice meeting and pre-wedding interview.

The ceremony itself is normally about 20 to 30 minutes long. You should allow half an hour beforehand for arrival and interviews, and then 15 minutes afterwards for photos and basking in happiness!

This should be your full current, maiden, or birth name.

Marriage certificates will be available for collection from Walthamstow library 7 working days after your ceremony.

You may order as many certificates as you wish. These will be sent out to you within seven days of the office receiving the completed marriage paperwork.

• £12.50 per certificate (statutory fee) plus
• £2 first class signed for delivery or £7 Royal Mail Special Delivery
   

Once you have signed the schedule, this is legally binding. If there is a mistake, you would need to contact the Registrars.

 Absolutely! The building, the square and its beautiful fountain are all incredibly photogenic!

No, unfortunately we do not allow any messy or hazardous items in the Town Hall or Town Hall complex.

There will be dedicated parking which will be pointed out at the time of your visit.

Depends how long you want to be on the square, but typically 30 to 45 minutes after the start.

There is no legal requirement in the UK to change your surname after marriage; it is merely a tradition.