Can we legally marry out of doors?
No - In England the law states that the marriage ceremony must take place inside a building that has a licence for marriages i.e. a Church, Register Office or Approved Venue. The building is licensed, not the celebrant.
A Heartfelt Ceremony can take place anywhere, inside a building (not necessary to be licensed) or outside in the open air. Once the legalities have taken place at a register office/venue the couple may hold a ceremony anywhere they wish without restriction.
Can we legally marry on a boat or aeroplane?
No - In England the law states that the room with a licence must be a fixed and permanent structure.
A Heartfelt Ceremony can take place in and upon any structure whether fixed, moving or temporarily installed. This again is once the legalities have taken place at any stage beforehand.
Can we have our marriage blessed at the same time or immediately after our civil ceremony at an approved venue?
No - A venue has to declare that it has no connection with any religious organisation and will not offer religious services or blessings as part of their wedding package.
A Heartfelt Ceremony can include a blessing within the same service, or can take place immediately after a civil ceremony.
Is there a limit or restriction to the time we can choose to hold our ceremony and for the length of time of the actual service?
Yes - Legally marriages have to take place between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and the registration service will allocate a time frame of 15 - 20 minutes for the ceremony. Several ceremonies may be performed on the same day and this will restrict your choice of time.
A Heartfelt Ceremony can take place at any time of the day or night; will be designed to fit your personal requirements including length of service, and only one ceremony per celebrant is booked per day therefore no time restraints.
How many witnesses can we have, and can guests take part in the ceremony?
The registration service will limit the witnesses usually to 2 adults, and guest participation is limited along with strict control over the content of enhancements (i.e. music, poetry and song.)
A Heartfelt ceremony invites as many witnesses as you wish with no age or language restrictions. You may ask an unlimited number of your guests to be involved in your ceremony and the content of the material is your choice completely.