b'WeddingsA marriage is a legally recognised union between two people. For a civil marriage to be legal, it must take place in a Register Office or licensed venue, in the presence of two witnesses and two Registrars authorised by the relevant registration district.One Registrar will act as your Celebrant and conductyour ceremony and the other will deal with the legalities ofthe ceremony. A marriage is contracted by the exchange of spoken legal vows that you will each repeat after the Celebrant. There are two sets of vows; the first is a declaration that you are free to marry and the second, the contracting vow, where you take each other as partners in your marriage. Your first decision when planning a wedding is to decidewhere you would like your ceremony to take place. East Sussex has over 100 fantastic venues licensed for marriages and civil partnerships, including our four Register Offices. There is something to suit any style and budget.If your chosen venue is not licensed for civil marriages please see Weddings with a Difference on page 11.Once you have decided where you would like your ceremony to take place, contact us to book your Registrars. Please ensure that both your venue and Registrars have been booked before making any further arrangements.Ceremonies in East Sussex can conduct ceremonies 24 hoursa day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (subject to availability). Ceremony bookings can be made up to three years in advance. Booking early is advisable to give you the bestKatie Rogers Photography chance of securing your preferred date and time.6Ceremonies in East Sussex'