Marriages and Civil Partnerships
We are currently receiving a high demand for our notice appointments. The average wait time is 2 months.
To avoid delays, please book your notice before booking a ceremony. Appointment availability is very limited.
The process
There are four steps to getting married or forming a civil partnership
- Decide and book a venue
- Book and attend your notice of intention
- Pay outstanding fees
- Attending your ceremony
Booking a venue
You can book your ceremony with Tower Hamlets online. The process will ask you to book a notice of marriage appointment before finalising the booking- this is to ensure that you leave enough time (29 - 72 days depending your individual circumstances) between giving notice and your ceremony day. Please see our separate pages for information ceremonies at St Georges Town Hall and our licensed ceremony venues. Find St Georges Town Hall on Hitched.com.
You can use our tool to see if we have availability for your chosen date. In the unlikely event you encounter an error, please do email us with your telephone number and a description of what went wrong so we can help as quickly as we can. Booking a ceremony via the portal is the quickest way to arrange a ceremony and to answer queries regarding availability
Book a marriage ceremony
Notice of intention
We have a separate page on giving notice of intention which is a legal requirement before all civil marriages or civil partnerships can take place. Please read for further information and to make an appointment. If you have read this, you may book an appointment using the link below. Ensure you know the difference between the two before you book. We do not have weekend appointments.
Book a notice of marriage
Book a notice of civil partnership
Paying outstanding fees
If you have made a booking and only paid a deposit, you can pay your remaining fees using the link below
Pay outstanding fees
Attending your ceremony
We treat each ceremony with the respect and enjoyment you would want on your big day but we do have a few things we ask from our couples. Please pay attention to all your confirmation emails. Further information may be found in our terms and conditions.
- Please ensure you and your guests arrive on time. You will be charged a late or rescheduling fee and may not be able to accommodate your ceremony on the day if you arrive late.
- The two witnesses must speak and understand English well.
- Ensure you understand the type of ceremony that you are having with us.
Ceremony Tiers
When booking your ceremony, you will be asked to select a ceremony type or tier. The differences are explained in the booking form and are also in the table below.
| |
Register Office
Statutory Ceremony |
Registration with No Ceremony |
Registration with Simple Ceremony |
Registration with Enhanced Ceremony |
| Cost |
Statutory Fee
See fees page |
See fees page |
See fees page |
See fees page |
| Availability |
2 ceremonies every Wednesday morning |
Every Day |
Every Day |
Every Day |
| Number of Guests |
2 witnesses only |
Venue/Room Dependant |
Venue/Room Dependant |
Venue/Room Dependant |
| Length |
15 minutes pre-ceremony
5 minute signing |
15 minutes pre-ceremony
5 minute signing |
15 minutes pre-ceremony
15 minute ceremony |
15-20 minutes pre-ceremony
20-25 minute ceremony |
| Ring / Token Exchange |
Optional as part of legal vows |
Optional as part of legal vows |
Optional with separate promise |
Optional with separate or custom promise |
| Online Ceremony Planner |
No |
Limited Access
*coming soon |
Standard Access
*coming soon |
Full Access
*coming soon |
| Script |
No Ceremony |
No Ceremony |
Simple Script |
Longer Script with Customisation Possible |
| Music |
No |
No |
Optional from our set list (at STG) |
Yes |
| Readings |
No |
No |
No |
Up to 3 readings |
| Personal Vows |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Option to not see each other before the ceremony |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Grand Entrance |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Access to Dressing Room (STG only) |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships: what is the difference?
Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships provide couples with broadly similar rights. Please check the government guidance for a full comparison.
The major difference is a marriage ceremony is a verbal contract given in a ceremony. A civil partnership is a signed contract, and a ceremony is optional. A marriage consists of husbands and/or wives and a civil partnership consists of civil partners.
Certificates after your ceremony
If you have had a civil or religious ceremony in Tower Hamlets, recently or in the past, and would like certificates of marriage or civil partnership, please order via our portal.
Please check our fees page for information on costs.
Order a certificate
Forced Marriage
Both parties must be free to enter the marriage or civil partnership by their own choice. Forced marriage is illegal. For further information on forced marriage, please visit the UK Government guidance on stopping forced marriage.