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Marriage and Civil Partnerships Ceremonies
Now that all of Scotland has moved beyond current level 0, here's our current advice:
- Most of the remaining legal restrictions on marriage and civil partnership ceremonies, as well as the receptions that follow, have been removed
- Guidance on maximum numbers allowed to attend both ceremonies and receptions no longer apply
- Legal restrictions on gatherings such as receptions at private dwellings no longer apply
- Guidance on marriage and civil partnership ceremonies indoors at private dwellings no longer apply
- There's no requirement on venues to maintain physical distancing at ceremonies or receptions
- Guests at a ceremony or reception can mingle and dance with one another, both indoors and out
- Face coverings can be removed to eat, drink and dance (both indoors and out) at receptions
However, some restrictions will remain in place which are specific to marriage and civil partnerships:
- Unless exempt, people must continue to wear a face covering in an indoor public place such as a registration office, hotel or other wedding/civil partnership venue – this includes during marriage and civil partnership ceremonies
- The Registrar/celebrant will be exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering if they are able to remain 1 metre from others, or there is a screen/partition between them
- Provided they maintain a 1 metre distance from others, or a screen/partition is present, the couple is also exempt from wearing a face covering throughout the marriage or civil partnership ceremony
- Couples must still wear face coverings in any public areas prior to and following the ceremony
- If one party is being accompanied down the aisle, the accompanying guest or guests are not required to wear a face covering for that part of the ceremony
- Children under 12 will not be required to wear a face covering
Notice forms
We are currently accepting marriage and civil partnership notice forms and all supporting documents* by email. These should be emailed to fife.registrars@fife.gov.uk
You can scan your marriage notice forms (M10s) or civil partnership notice forms (CP10s) or take a clear photograph of everything to email it. To obtain either M10s or CP10s, please visit the National Records of Scotland website.
When emailing in notice forms and supporting documents, please send these to us around 10-12 weeks prior to your proposed date of marriage or partnership to allow us time to process all your paperwork. Once you scan your paperwork, this will be passed to the appropriate office and a Registrar will then contact you to go over your paperwork, take payment of fees over the phone and discuss the next stages.
If you would prefer to post your paperwork to us, please contact us at fife.registrars@fife.gov.uk and we will advise which office to post to, and what documents to send.
*Supporting documents are:
- Birth certificate – full extract is preferable but abbreviated can be accepted. If you don’t have a birth certificate and you were born in Scotland, the Registrar can search for your entry for a fee of £5. Alternatively, you can purchase a certificate from your local Registrar. If you were born outwith Scotland, you will need to contact authorities in your birth country.
- Proof of nationality – eg valid passport, your country’s ID card. Alternatively, your mother’s birth certificate
- Evidence of residency – eg valid driving licence, utility bill (not older than 3 months), bank or building society statement (not older than 1 month), a council tax bill (not older than 12 months), a current residential tenancy or mortgage agreement (not older than 12 months)
- Divorce decree (if divorced)
- Foreign divorce questionnaire (if required)
- Civil Partnership dissolved or annulled document (if applicable)
- Death certificate (if widowed)
- Certificate of No Impediment to marriage (CONI) (if applicable)
Please note, translations into English are required for foreign documents.
Booking a Ceremony
For civil ceremonies with a Registrar, we are extremely busy for the rest of 2021 and have many bookings for 2022 and 2023.
If you would like to enquire about a new booking, please complete our Request information on Getting Married or Civil Partnered in Fife form.
Outdoor Ceremonies
Fife has incredible spaces for outdoor marriage and civil partnership ceremonies, including parks and beaches. You may need permission from the land owner for an outdoor ceremony. For further information, please visit our Planning an event pages.
Alternatively, please contact fifeevents@fife.gov.uk
Ceremonies
You can be married at many beautiful venues throughout Fife and all civil marriage ceremonies are conducted by our friendly and professional Registrars. Civil ceremonies can take place in a variety of venues ranging from historic buildings, fairytale castles, elegant mansion houses, to stylish and well designed Registrar's own venues. In addition, you can also request a setting of your own choice, for example in your own home or garden, on the beach or a place that holds special memories for you.
You don't need to be resident in Scotland to be married here, which makes it a lot easier for overseas visitors. There are, however, specific legal requirements which must be met before any marriage can proceed.
To obtain the legal forms, you need Marriage Notice form (M10) - and for full information on the legal side of marriage in Scotland, please visit the National Records of Scotland website: www.nrscotland.gov.uk
In Fife we take bookings for civil ceremonies many years in advance, so please get in touch as quickly as possible if you want to book a particular day or time. This is especially important if you want to be married at the weekend, or in the busy Spring and Summer periods. Please use the 'Request information on Getting Married or Civil Partnered in Fife' form.
Without all the legal preliminaries to marriage being met, your wedding cannot go ahead, so please contact us as soon as you decide that you want to get married in Fife!
When submitting your Marriage or Civil Partnership notices to the registrar please have the following supporting documents (translations into English are required for foreign documents):
- Marriage notices completed and signed by both parties – minimum notice period 29 days
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Nationality (valid passport, your countries I.D. Card etc)
- Evidence of Residency – The party’s valid driving licence, utility bill (not older than 3 months), Bank or Building Society Statement or Passbook (not older than 1 month), a council tax bill (not older than 12 months), a current residential tenancy agreement, a current mortgage statement (not older than 12 months)
- Divorce Decree (if divorced)
- Foreign Divorce Questionnaire (if required)
- Civil Partnership Dissolved or Annulled Document (if applicable)
- Death Certificate (if widowed)
- Cash or cheque for the appropriate fee or balance of fees (cheque made payable to ‘Fife Council’)
- Certificate of No Impediment to marriage (CONI) (if applicable)
- Witnesses to your Marriage Form
- Civil Ceremony Authorisation Form (if required)
Parties to a Marriage or Civil Partnership who state they are NOT British, Swiss or an EEA national MUST complete a Home Office Declaration of Immigration Status Form
- Declaration of Immigration Status Form (if applicable)
- Evidence of appropriate Immigration Status (if applicable)
- Passport style and size photo of both parties (if applicable)
- Relevant visa (if applicable)
You can get civil partnership notice forms (CP10's) from any Registrar's office as well as any advice or information. The forms are also available on National Records of Scotland's website - www.nrscotland.gov.uk
Civil partnerships can take place in Registrar's offices or in any external venue of your choice in Fife. You don't have to have a ceremony, however, most couples choose to do so as a way of celebrating with their families and friends.
We can help co-ordinate your ceremony so it is exactly what you want. You can choose your own vows and declarations, readings and music to personalise your ceremony the way you want it.
See the list of Marriage and Civil Partnership Fees below.
If you have any enquiries relating to civil partnerships please email us at the address below.
Back To TopWhat is a renewal of marriage vows ceremony?
This ceremony is for any married couple who wish to celebrate their marriage by renewing their marriage vows in a unique and personal ceremony.
Often these ceremonies are associated with a special wedding anniversary, however, the ceremony can be for couples at any stage of their marriage.
The ceremony is also a great idea for couples who marry abroad and then want to include their family and friends in a celebration here.
Who are the Ceremonies for?
Any married couple, of any age and married for any length of time, can arrange a civil Renewal of Marriage Vows Ceremony. You need to produce your marriage certificate when booking your ceremony.
Who will conduct your Ceremony?
A Registrar will conduct your ceremony, however, they will not be acting in any official capacity.
For further information please speak to a Registrar using the contact details below.
Where can your Ceremony take place?
Your ceremony can take place in a Registrar's Office in Fife or in a venue of your choice, perhaps your home, your garden or a hotel?
See Renewal of Marriage Vows Fees below for full information on costs.
Back To TopWhat is a naming ceremony?
- A naming ceremony is a very special way for parents to celebrate and welcome a child into the family.
- You, as parents, decide the content of the ceremony, selecting declarations and promises of commitment which allows you to create a unique and special ceremony for your child and for yourselves.
- Friends or relatives can also take part in the ceremony as "Supporting Adults". They pledge a special relationship with the child.
- Grandparents are welcome to take part in the ceremony too.
Who are they for?
- Children of any age can have a naming ceremony – they are not just for babies.
- Any parent or anyone else who has legal guardianship of the child can arrange the ceremony.
- Parents do not need to be married to organise a naming ceremony.
Who will conduct your ceremony?
A Registrar will conduct your ceremony, however, they will not be acting in any official capacity.
Where can your ceremony take place?
Your ceremony can take place in a Registrar's Office in Fife, or in a venue of your own choice, perhaps your home, your garden or a hotel.
How much will it cost?
Please see the publication below - Naming Ceremony Fees
Back To TopThis is the final step in the process of becoming a British Citizen. The new citizen must attend a citizenship ceremony and declare or affirm an oath of allegiance to the Queen and make the pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom.
In Fife, we receive details of new citizens from the Home Office, who are then contacted by letter and invited to the next available citizenship ceremony.
If you have received notification from the Home Office to confirm your British Citizenship application has been approved and you have also been advised to contact Fife Council in order to organise your citizenship ceremony please email: fife.registrars@fife.gov.uk
Please do not contact Fife Council until you have received confirmation of your British Citizenship, thank you.
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