Webpages in the Marriage and civil partnerships section

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Personalising your wedding ceremony

You can personalise several parts of the ceremony by adding your own words, music and readings. We call this your 'ceremony choices'.

Once you've told us your ceremony choices, you'll receive a full copy of your personal ceremony script, so 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)

More about 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 taking place in one of our ceremony suites, like the , then you must bring your own music with you.

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 that mean only assistance animals or service dogs are allowed inside our buildings.

Send us your choices

You can complete your ceremony choices by using our online form.

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 14 days before your ceremony date. If you don't submit choices in time, we will deliver a standard ceremony script.

Ceremony choices are checked by the team in ceremony date order. Please don't worry if you don't hear anything straight away as in the summer months there are high volumes of ceremony choices to check before they can be attached to your ceremony booking.

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 as part of our good to go checks.

Before you submit your ceremony choices, 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.

If you can't use the form for any reason, email ceremonyadmin@norfolk.gov.uk and ask us to send you a copy.

Ceremony choices

Changing your choices

Please note that you can't amend your ceremony choices within 14 days 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 ceremonyadmin@norfolk.gov.uk. Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.

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