Track 3:


Common questions.


What fees do I need to pay 
and when? 


Fees for all weddings are payable 
12 weeks before the Big Day. 
If you are getting married in less 
than 12 weeks, you will have to 
pay in full straight away. 
Cheques should be made payable 
to Oxfordshire County Council 
and be supported by a valid 
guarantee card. Mastercard,Visa, 
Switch/Maestro and Delta 
are all accepted in our offices. 


What if I need to cancel 
my wedding? 


If you need to cancel your 
wedding for any reason, 
please contact us immediately 
on 0845 1 2 9 5 9 0 0.
 

Can people take photographs 
of, or record, the wedding? 

Your guests are more than 
welcome to take photos before 
and after the ceremony. If you 
would like pictures during the 
ceremony, you need to discuss 
this with the Registrar first. 
Video recordings are allowed 
but please let the Registrar know 
this before the ceremony so the 
person can be directed to the 
most appropriate position. 


Is smoking allowed? 


Smoking is not permitted in 
any of the marriage rooms or 
registration buildings.

 
What are your rules on 
mobile phones?

 
It would be a shame if a ringing 
mobile phone ruined your day so 
please ask guests to ensure they 
have turned them, and any pagers, 
off before the ceremony. Please 
note that all food, drink and 
chewing gum are not permitted. 


Can guests throw confetti? 


Some wedding venues have 
restrictions on confetti, so please 
discuss this with the Registrar 


conducting your ceremony, and 
the staff at the venue. 

Your wedding ceremony.


Before the ceremony.


To make sure everything goes ahead on time and without any hitches plese ensure you and your guests arrive at least 15 minutes before the time of your wedding.  
Registrars are very busy and will normally be attending several weddings in one day, particularly at busy times. Remember to make allowances for traffic delays, parking and any prewedding photographs and inform your guests of this. If you are late, we might not be able to proceed with the ceremony.

During this time, the registrar, who will be registering the marriage will see both partners privately to check that the details to be entered into the marriage register are correct:  you can be seen either individually or together, whichever you prefer.  This is also an opportunity for you to ask any last minute questions:  after these checks have been made we can proceed with the wedding ceremony itself.


The ceremony.


Saying 'I do' in front of friends and family can be a nerve-racking event but the registrars will be on hand to help you every step of the way.  they will guide you through everything you need to do or say, so there is no need to worry about forgetting your lines or doing things in the wrong order.  
Once you, your guests and your witnesses are seated, the ceremony will begin, with a welcome by the Registrar. The bride and groom will be asked, in turn, to repeat a number of solemn declarations, which will be the choices you made for your legal declarations and contracting words (your vows) and your promises. Go to the Choosing Vows and Promises section for the options you can choose from.

After you have made your marriage contract, you and your witnesses will sign the marriage register. After this, the registrars will sign the register and will present you with your marriage certificate.


Choosing vows and promises.

 
Traditional, modern or simple? Choose the vows or 
promises that mean the most to you when you say “I do” 


Legal declarations

 
Traditional.
 
1. I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful 
impediment why I (your full name) may not be 
joined in matrimony to (your partner’s full name). 

2.  Modern.
 
I declare that I know of no legal reason why I 
(your full name) may not be joined in marriage to 
(your partner’s full name). 

3. Simplified. 

The Registrar asks:“Are you (your full name) 
free, lawfully, to marry (your partner’s full name)? 
You reply: “I am”. 

Contracting words
 
1. Traditional. 
I call upon these persons, here present, to witness 
that I (your full name) do take thee (your partner’s 
full name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband. 

2. Modern. 
I (your full name), take you (your partner’s full 
name) to be my wedded wife/husband.

3.Simplified. 
I (your full name) take thee (your partner’s full 
name) to be my wedded wife/husband.
 

While a civil wedding ceremony has a fairly standard format, there is plenty of scope within it to 
make it a personal statement of your love and commitment to each other. The minimum vows 
for a legal civil wedding are included below, under legal declarations and contracting words. 
You can choose which version suits you best from each one: 
Suggested promises. 
After the ‘legal’ part of the ceremony has taken place, you can become more 
personal and creative, if you so wish, by saying promises to each other. 

The following are suggestions that some people have used in the past. 

1. I promise that I will respect you as an 
individual, support you through difficult times, 
rejoice with you through happy times, be 
loyal to you always and, above all, love you 
as my wife/husband and friend. 

2. I promise to care for you above all others, 
to give you my love and friendship, support 
and comfort, and to respect and cherish you 
throughout our lives together. 

3. I give you this ring as a token of my love 
and friendship.
 
4. I give you this ring as a token of our love 
and marriage, as a symbol of all that we share 
and in recognition of our life together. 

5. I promise to love and respect you. Helping our 
love grow, always being there to listen, comfort and 
support you, whatever our future may bring.
 
6. I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage 
and as a symbol of our love. I promise to care for 
you, to respect and cherish you, throughout our 
lives together.
 
7. I give you this ring as a sign of our love, trust and 
marriage. I promise to care for you above all others, 
to give you my love, friendship and support, and to 
respect and cherish you throughout our life together.
 
8. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and 
affection, wear it with happiness and pride – now 
and always.
 
D I Y promises!
 
Alternatively, if none of these take your fancy, you may 
be able to write your own promises; it is best to discuss 
this with your Registrar first to gauge their views on this. 
If you get the go-ahead, you can start putting pen to paper to come up with vows that really do come from 
the heart – and yours, not someone else’s.  The following 
promises may give you some inspiration: 

1. To get through whatever life throws at you, 
both good and bad 

2. To love, cherish and respect one another 

3. To stay together for life 

4. To share happiness and laughter 

5. To be kind, trusting, tolerant and understanding 

6. To be good friends forever. 

This way you can decide which aspects and 
elements of your relationship you wish to share with 
your family and friends. 
