Ceremonies | Kirklees Council

Booking a marriage or civil partnership

We have put some packages together so you can have a small ceremony and then a larger ceremony when guest limits are increased.
You can still get married in Kirklees if you live outside the district.

Notices of Intent

For your ceremony to go ahead you must have valid Notices of Marriage or Civil Partnership in place at least 28 days before the date of your ceremony.
We will be in touch as your ceremony draws closer to make sure you are booked in for your Notice of Intent if you need to complete it again.
We do not let you know when a notice has been issued, but we will contact you if there is a problem with your notice.

Giving Notice of Intent if you are outside of Kirklees

If your partner lives outside of Kirklees and needs to give notice, you must get in touch with their local Registration Service to check appointment availability.
If you have given notice elsewhere for a ceremony in Kirklees, we are automatically informed that you have done so.

Your ceremony

We will publish changes, including the number of attendants for Register Office weddings and Civil Partnerships, as soon as possible.

You do not need to bring identification or paperwork on the day, as you would have provided identification when giving Notice of Intent.

Witnesses

Witnesses are required to observe you make your verbal contract of marriage, and to sign the marriage register.

You must supply your own witnesses - Kirklees Register Office staff cannot act as witnesses.
They need to be present throughout the ceremony, and not be involved in other roles which may distract them, such as taking photographs.
Your witnesses need to speak and understand English, and ideally should be over the age of 16.
They can be friends or family members.
They do not need to bring ID on the day.
Your witnesses must be included in your guest numbers.

Ceremonies at Huddersfield Town Hall and Dewsbury Town Hall

You should arrive for your ceremony 15 minutes before your allotted time. This is to allow for you and your partner to be interviewed prior to your ceremony.

If you do not wish to see each other before the ceremony, one of you should arrive 15 minutes in advance and the other 5 to 10 minutes ahead so we can conduct your interviews separately.
Guests are welcome 15 minutes ahead too.
You and your guests will be directed to the appropriate rooms on arrival by our receptionist.

Where to go

The entrance to Huddersfield Town Hall is on Corporation Street. You will exit onto Peel Street.
The entrance to Dewsbury Town hall is on the main concourse area.

Music

Music cannot be religious in nature - incidental references to a god or deity is acceptable, but the piece must be essentially non-religious in context.

You are welcome to bring your own music.
Live music is restricted during the pandemic, please contact us for more information.
Recorded music must be downloaded to a smart device like a phone or tablet that can be connected to our system via Bluetooth.
We recommend playing music in three places: entrance, document signing and exit.

Certificates

You can order your certificate following your ceremony, online or over the telephone.

Contact us

Get in touch if you would like to arrange anything or if you have any queries.

kirklees.ceremonies@kirklees.gov.uk

Civil partnerships

Civil partnerships are a form of civil union allowing couples to obtain the same rights and responsibilities as civil marriage. A civil partnership does not require a ceremony therefore you can choose to sign the schedule in front of two qualified witnesses by booking a statutory ceremony appointment. If you wish to combine the signing with a full ceremony then of course you have the option to. We conduct Civil partnerships across Kirklees and as with marriages you can combine bespoke ceremonies with your legalities. Once you have booked with us and your venue you will need to complete legal requirements which is giving notice of civil partnership.

Renewal of vows

A renewal of vows is a beautiful way for couples, who are married or in a civil partnership, to celebrate their years together and commitment to one another. The ceremony can be as grand or as simple as you wish, with some people inviting the original wedding party from the day, and other couples inviting new friends they have met together since. The ceremony can be a unique opportunity to celebrate a special anniversary and for many couples it is a personal statement of their love for each other and can be the precursor to a party or celebration.

Naming ceremonies

A naming ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the arrival of your child and welcoming them into the family. It can also be a way of welcoming a child that has become part of your family through a new relationship, marriage or adoption or as a celebration of any name change including gender reassignment. A typical ceremony might include readings or poems, the appointment of supporting adults, a series of promises to the child by both the parents and supporting adults and the symbolic action of the signing of a certificate. Any parent, or anyone else who has parental responsiblity or legal guardianship of a child, can arrange a naming ceremony.

Citizenship ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies are for adults whose application to become a British citizen has been accepted. If your application is successful, it is a legal requirement that you attend a ceremony, within 90 days of receiving your invitation.

If you don't attend a citizenship ceremony within this time, you might have to make a new application. Citizenship ceremonies are attended by the local dignitaries to welcome you to the borough. At the end of the ceremony you are presented with your British citizenship certificate.