Personalising your Ceremony
Whether you wish to have a short informal ceremony with only a
few guests, or an enhanced formal one with many guests, our
dedicated registration team will be happy and pleased to help you
plan the ceremony of your dreams.
Each ceremony will be unique; whilst there are certain legal
declarations you must say during the ceremony, we have additional
elements which you may, if you wish, add to your ceremony with
poetry and readings, or you may prefer to write your own special
and meaningful words to one another. Whatever you decide upon, our
experienced and friendly team will help you plan your perfect
ceremony.
If you have a poem or reading in mind, then we would need to see
a copy prior to the day of the wedding.
Music can be provided for your ceremony at the Register Office,
you can however, bring along your own (please check this with the
Superintendent Registrar prior to the day of the wedding). If
however, you are getting married at one of our Approved Premises,
then generally speaking you will need at least three pieces of
music to be played during the ceremony:
- for the entrance of the Bride / Bridal Party
- during the signing of the Register
- on the Bride and Groom’s departure.
Please liaise directly with the venue, prior to the day of the
wedding, to confirm who will be responsible for playing and
organising the music you have chosen.
Please note: any enhancements chosen, including any music,
poetry or readings, must be secular and contain no real or
perceived religious connotations. The omission of selective
references or verses from a piece would not be deemed to alter it's
overall religious character.
If you have chosen to get married at the Register Office or one
of our Approved Premises, we will ask you to come in to the
Register Office for an informal discussion on the content of your
wedding ceremony (pre-marriage interview). This will be with the
Superintendent Registrar conducting your ceremony.
Advanced Booking
A notice of marriage is valid for 12 months, so you cannot give
notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar more than 12
months before the date of your wedding. However, we are happy to
make a provisional booking for those couples who wish to plan well
in advance, on the understanding that they must then give legal
notice at the correct time.
Bi-lingual Ceremony
If you are a fluent Welsh speaker, perhaps would like to have
your ceremony conducted in Welsh. If so, please discuss this with
the Superintendent Registrar when booking an appointment.
What do I do, if I don’t speak English very well?
If English is not your first language and you would like someone
to help you with the registration, please ask a relative or friend
to accompany you to the Register Office when you give notice and
also on the day of the ceremony. Please remember you must attend
personally to give your legal notice at the Register Office. You
cannot ask a relative or friend to attend instead of you.
What should I do, if I require special assistance?
If you require any assistance, when giving legal notice, please
discuss your needs with a registrar when you telephone to book an
appointment.
Parking Facilities
Limited car-parking facilities are available for customer use
(accessible via Dock View Road) at the Civic Offices, Monday –
Friday, with an overflow car park at Barry Leisure Centre also
available. Unlimited spaces are available at the Civic Offices at
weekends.
Visitors should report to the reception desk on the ground
floor, where you will be directed to the Register Office.