Civil Ceremonies
Stationers' Hall has a civil licence for marriages and civil partnership ceremonies on the premises. The Court room and the Hall are ideal for ceremonies for up to 120 and 200 guests respectively.
If you wish only just to have a Ceremony at Stationers' Hall, the ceremony can begin no later than 12:00 hours.
The legal requirements for getting married at approved premises are the same as for civil marriages in England and Wales but with the added requirement of the presence of a Superintendent Registrar and a Registrar to conduct and record the service.
It is possible to enhance your ceremony by having your own choice of non-religious music, poetry and prose readings, but the content must be agreed in advance with the Superintendent Registrar. It is also possible to have your own choice of vows and promises that have a special meaning to both of you, although these will be in addition to the statutory declaratory and contracting words that are required.
Civil ceremonies may be carried out between the hours of 8am and 6pm seven days a week.
Arrangements
For those who wish to marry on approved premises:-
As soon as a couple have made provisional arrangements for their marriage on approved premises they should be advised to contact the Superintendent Registrar for the district in which the premises are situated either in person or in writing, at:-
Islington Registry Office
Finsbury Town Hall
Rosebery Avenue
London EC1R 4QT
Telephone: 020 7527 6350
Opening hours: 09:30 - 12:30 / 14:00-16:00 Monday - Friday
Without the presence of a Superintendent Registrar and a Registrar there can be no marriage and any arrangements for the use of the premises depend entirely on their availability. It is, therefore, essential that the couple make an advance booking with the Superintendent Registrar for his/her attendance at their proposed marriage as soon as a booking can be accepted. A fee for this attendance will be payable before the ceremony.
The couple will also have to give a notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar(s) of the district(s) in which they live. This notice must be given in person by one of the couple and is currently valid for only three months. The couple should, therefore, attend the register office(s) where they live as soon as possible in order to give notice(s). Only one person is required to give a notice, although both can attend if they wish.
The couple should be warned that any arrangements made for a marriage to take place on the approved premises are dependent on:
(a) the attendance of Superintendent Registrar and a Registrar for the district in which the premises are situated; and
(b) the issue of the authority or authorities for marriage by the Superintendent Registrar(s) to whom notice of marriage was given.
When notice is given in a different registration district from the one where the marriage is taking place, the couple will have to collect the authority before the ceremony and ensure that it is delivered to the Islington Register Office. This should be delivered at the latest the day before the marriage is to take place, unless the marriage is to take place on a Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday, in which case the authorities should be delivered on the previous Friday.
The couple should be advised that only a civil, non-religious ceremony could be permitted by the Superintendent Registrar. Any reading, words or performance which form any part of the ceremony must be secular (non-religious). The content of the ceremony must be agreed in advance with the Superintendent Registrar who will be attending the ceremony.
Any rights of copyright for music, readings etc. permitted at the ceremony are a matter for the couple and the holder of the approval.
To arrange a tour of our fabulous Hall and Garden please contact Susana De Sousa, Tel: 020 7246 0999, E-mail: marketing@stationers.org. Alternatively complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.
