Ceremony Options Form

Step 4 – from 19 July 2021:

Safety, and maintaining the level of public services we can offer are our priorities.
Registrars will wear a face covering.
We’re requiring all visitors to East Sussex County Council buildings, including our Register Offices, to continue to wear a face covering in public areas and ceremony rooms (unless exempt).
We urge all people attending wedding ceremonies at which we officiate, in any venue, to continue to wear a face covering (unless exempt).

For the latest information about ceremonies during the Covid-19 pandemic see our Covid Update Page

We would like your ceremony to be as personal and memorable as possible. To help us do this please complete a Ceremony Options Form.

This will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You will not have the option to save and return so please ensure you have all your ceremony information, including any readings or music choices before starting.

Please ensure you have read the Ceremony Pack before completing the Ceremony Options Form.

If possible Options Forms should be submitted around 1 month before your ceremony.

Type of ceremony

Wedding

Civil Partnership

Renewal of Vows

Naming Ceremony

Will your ceremony be taking place outside?

From 1 July 2021, until 5 April 2022, as part of the pandemic easements introduced by the Government, outdoor civil marriages and civil partnerships are permitted. These ceremonies will be legally recognised where they are conducted by a registrar in the linked grounds of licensed premises, and provided that certain conditions are met, including prior approval of the proposed location by the Superintendent Registrar. It is for individual venues to decide whether they wish to offer these outdoor ceremonies and, if so, on what basis.

Yes

Have your venue confirmed an outdoor ceremony?

If so, please provide further details about where your ceremony will be taking place.

i.e In the wooded area, beside the lake etc

Ceremony Details

Venue

Venue Name

East Sussex Register Office is located at Crowborough Register Office, Hookstead. Statutory registrations take place in a small working office and will accommodate you, your partner and two witnesses only

Room

Will you or any of your guests require use of the lift?

As your choice of venue is not one of our venues licensed for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies, please tell us more about it below.

Please include: the address, what type of venue it is (e.g. family home, restaurant etc), accessibility and parking, potential risks (e.g. ponds, balconies etc), if there are animals and/or pets at the venue, any other factors that may affect the health and safety of staff attending.

Venue address (including postcode), Contact Name and Telephone

VIP Experience

Our VIP Experience allows you some time before your ceremony to enjoy a glass of champagne with some of your close friends and/or family. A soft drink alternative is available if preferred. Please arrive at the entrance on Southover Road, 45 minutes before the start of your ceremony. One of our Ceremonies staff will greet you and take you to our VIP Suite. They will be on hand as your host during your VIP experience.

A maximum of 6 adults can attend the VIP Experience.

Due to Health & Safety considerations and Alcohol Licensing laws we can only allow OVER 18s into the VIP Suite.

Please list below the names of your VIP guests and their choice of drink.

Our licence requires us to operate a ‘Challenge 21’ alcohol policy. Please inform all your guests that anyone who appears to be under the age of 21 and is drinking alcohol will be asked for ID in the form of a passport, driving licence or PASS card. No one under the age of 18 will be permitted to consume alcohol on the premises. No ID = No alcohol … No exceptions.

Please tick to confirm all VIP guests are over 18.

Date of ceremony

Time of ceremony

Please confirm how many people will be attending your ceremony (including you, your partner, all children and witnesses).

Your Details

Full Name

Known As

Full Name

Relationship to child(ren)

Home address

Telephone Number

Full Name

Known As

Telephone Number

Legal Ceremony Party

Ceremony Party

Will you have a best person?

Yes

Best person's name

Will you have bridesmaids?

Yes

How many bridemaids?

Will you have groomsmen?

Yes

How many groomsmen?

Why have you chosen to renew your vows?

How did you meet?

How long have you been together?

Milestones in your life together

Other Information

(i.e. Memories, favourite places you’ve been, events you’ve attended, hobbies, interests etc)

About your family

Do you have any children?

Yes

How many?

Do you have any grandchildren?

Yes

How many?

Would you like them mentioned during your ceremony?

Yes

Please provide us with a little more information (names/ages)

Tell us about any other family or friends you would like mentioned or involved and why?

How would you like them to be involved? (Ring bearer, give a reading, etc)

Is there anyone else you would like us to mention?

Information about your child(ren)

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

If there is a special meaning or particular reason you chose the names that you have, please provide details below.

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Legal Ceremony

Arrival

Before your ceremony both of you will be required to complete a short interview with your Registrars to check that your personal details are correct. You do not need to bring any I.D or paperwork and is your choice whether you are seen together or separately.

Your Registrars will meet you just before the ceremony to double check your ceremony details and answer any last-minute questions you may have. You can decide whether you would like to be seen together or separately.

How will you be arriving at the venue?

How would you like to be interviewed?

If you are being interviewed together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you are being interviewed separately, one of you should arrive 20 minutes before, and the other 10 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

If you are being interviewed together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you are being interviewed separately, one of you should be ready 30 minutes before, and the other 15 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

If you would like to be seen together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you'd rather be seen separately, one of you should be ready 30 minutes before, and the other 15 before the start time of your ceremony.

All VIPs should arrive at the appointments entrance on Southover Road 45 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

If you have chosen not to have a VIP package you should enter through the ceremonies entrance on Southover High Street. If you are being interview separately, one party should arrive 20 minutes before the ceremony and the other 10 minutes before the ceremony. If you prefer to be interviewed together, please arrive 20 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

For the ceremony itself, we ask that your guests arrive 20 minutes before your ceremony is due to start. In all cases, guests who are not attending the VIP Experience should arrive at the Ceremonies entrance on Southover High Street.

For the ceremony itself, we ask that your guests arrive 20 minutes before your ceremony is due to start.

Entrance

How will you enter your ceremony?

How would you like to enter the ceremony?

Will either of you be accompanied?

Yes

Who will be accompanied?

Who will escort them? (Name & Relationship)

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a Father/Mother and his/her Daughter/Son is very special and never more so than on a day like today. So I ask, who stands here in support of & as they join in marriage?

Yes

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a Father/Mother and his/her Daughter/Son is very special and never more so than on a day like today. So I ask, who stands here in support of & as they form their civil partnership?

Yes

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between Father/Mother & his/her Daughter/Son is a very special one, and never more so than on a day like today. So, I ask, who stands here in support of & as they pledge their love and commitment?

Yes

Legal Ceremony

Vows

Each of you will be required to say two sets of legal vows. The first where you declare that you are free to marry and the second when you take each other as partners in your marriage.

Please choose which vows you would like to say from the options below

Option 1:
I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I…. may not be joined in matrimony to…
& I call upon these persons here present to witness that I…..do take thee…..to be my lawful wedded wife/husband

Option 2:
I declare that I know of no legal reason why I…..may not be joined in marriage to…..
& I…..take you…..to be my wedded wife/husband

Option 3:
Reply ‘I am’ to the question ‘Are you…..free lawfully to marry…..?’
& I…..take thee…..to be my wedded wife/husband

Personal vows/promises

Would you like to include your own personal vows or promises?

Yes

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert below

A reminder that your vows cannot contain any religious content.

Alternative choices

Alternatively, you may choose from the following

In the presence of our family and friends gathered here today I promise to give you, my love and friendship, to suport and comfort you, to care for you with love and patience, to respect and cherish you and to be faithful always. These promises I make to you for the rest of my life

Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you to be my partner. I am proud to be your [wife/husband] and to join my life with yours. I vow to continue to support you, push you, inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live

I would like to thank you for all the love, friendship, help, support and understanding that you have shown to me over the time that we have shared together and I promise to continue to love and support you through good times and bad. I will continue to be loyal, loving and faithful throughout our future together

I promise to go on loving you, to care for your needs and happiness, to support you in your aspirations and to share with you the difficulties. I promise you the help and comfort of a friendship and the loyalty and faithfulness of a loving husband/wife/partner in the years which lie ahead

I promise to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow and to grow old with you in love; to cherish and respect you for as long as we both shall live

Declarations

Legal Declaration

‘I declare that I know of no legal reason why we may not register as each other’s civil partner. I understand that on signing this document we will be forming a civil partnership with each other.’

This can either be read to yourself or said out loud.

We would like to…….

Read it

Say it

Personal Declarations and Promises

If you would like to include your own personal declarations and promises, please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert them into the box below

Or you may wish to use one of the declarations below

I….declare that I come here of my own free will and accord, and am free lawfully to enter into this bond with…..

I…….declare before those gathered here today, that I take you…….to be my lifelong partner, to love and to honour you, to trust and to respect you, and to be loving, faithful and loyal throughout our lives together

Legal Ceremony

Rings

Rings/gifts

Will you be exchanging rings?

Yes

How many?

Who will present the rings?

Will you exchange gifts?

Yes

What will you be exchanging?

Legal Ceremony

Readings

Would you like to include a reading?

Yes

A reminder that readings cannot be from a religious source or contain any religious content.

How many?

Title

Read by

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Music

Will you have music played during your ceremony?

Yes

As with the readings, music can contain religious content if you choose.

A reminder that music cannot be from a religious source or contain any religious content.

Which format will your music be in?

Entrance

Artist & Title

Schedule Signing

Artist & Title

Exit

Artist & Title

You will need to supply your own music, and nominate one of your guests to operate the music system during your ceremony.

You will need to arrange this with your chosen venue.

Legal Ceremony

Witnesses

You must arrange for two people to act as your witnesses. Witnesses should be over 16, speak English and understand the ceremony. Ceremonies in East Sussex are unable to provide witnesses.

Please provide the names of your witnesses

Witness one

Name

Relationship to child

Grandparents

Would you like to involve Grandparents in the ceremony?

Yes

Please give details

Gifts

Legal Ceremony

Exit

Please be aware confetti is not permitted at any of the register offices or in Southover Grange gardens.

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

Please specify

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

How would you like the ceremony to end? For example, would you like us to invite your guests to follow you out of the room, or to exit to another area for drinks while you have photographs taken?

Parents Details

You can each have up to four parents' details recorded on your marriage/civil partnership schedule.