Webpages in the Marriage and civil partnerships section
Personalising your ceremony
How you can personalise several key parts of your wedding or civil partnership ceremony, including words, music and readings.
We call this your 'ceremony choices'.
Once you've told us your ceremony choices by submitting our online form, you'll receive a full copy of your personal ceremony script. You'll know exactly how the ceremony will flow on your big day.
Before you get started
Before deciding on your ceremony choices, have a think about these things:
- Who will be your witnesses?
- Will either partner be given away and who will be giving them away?
- Have you chosen your readings, and who will read them for you?
- Did you want to write some of your own words? If you do, it's helpful if you have them written before beginning the form.
- Will you be exchanging rings? If so, who will hold them for you?
- What would you like to say in your ceremony? Before you complete your ceremony choices you may find it useful to read an example of a marriage ceremony script (PDF, 108 KB)
Readings
Add readings to your ceremony to showcase your personality as a couple, or include a passage from one of your favourite authors or poets.
Our celebrant would be happy to present any readings for you, or you could ask one of your guests - the choice is yours.
If you need inspiration, download our list of suggested readings (PDF, 215 KB).
Music
We recommend you choose entrance music, a song or two for when the schedule is being signed and a final tune for your exit.
As this is a civil ceremony, we can't include religious music, such as hymns, but a song such as 'God only Knows' by The Beach Boys would be fine. If your ceremony is in one of our ceremony suites, like the Benefactors Room at Norwich Castle, then you must bring your own music with you. This should preferably be on a device which can connect to our Bluetooth enabled speaker, or on a CD .
Involving your pet in the celebrations
You will need to confirm that your approved venue will allow animals.
If your ceremony is taking place in one of our ceremony suites, we have health and safety rules. This means only assistance animals or service dogs are allowed inside our buildings, with the exception of the Walden Studio at the Corn Hall in Diss.
Send us your choices by completing the Ceremony Choices form
Use our Ceremony Choices online form to send us your ceremony choices.
When to send your choices
We recommend submitting your choices around 12 weeks before your ceremony date. You're welcome to complete your choices earlier than this, if you prefer.
We will remind you, by email, to complete your ceremony choices:
- At 20 weeks before your ceremony
- At 10 weeks before your ceremony
We need your choices at least four weeks before your ceremony date. If you don't submit your choices in time, we'll deliver our classic script at your ceremony.
Check the Ceremony Choices form before you send it
Before you submit your Ceremony Choices form online, read through the preview page. If you spot an error or change your mind about any of the wording, you can go back to previous sections and make amendments.
Complete the Ceremony Choices online form
If you can't use the online form for any reason, email [email protected] and ask us to send you a copy. Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.
Confirmation of your choices
Ceremony choices are checked by the team in ceremony date order. Please don't worry if you don't hear anything straight away in the summer. There are high volumes of ceremony choices to check.
If we have any questions about your ceremony choices we will contact you to discuss.
A confirmation email will be sent to you in the weeks leading up to your ceremony confirming everything is in order.
Changing your choices
You cannot amend your ceremony choices within four weeks of the ceremony date.
If the names of your witnesses have changed, you do not need to notify us before the ceremony. On the day of your ceremony, you can confirm the names of your witnesses with the celebrant registrars. They will speak to you before your ceremony begins.
If you've already submitted choices to us and want to change them, please email [email protected]. Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.
