Civil ceremony wording

Script Choices

We offer a choice of scripts including options to tailor your own ceremony. We have included below three wedding and three civil partnership scripts along with templates should you wish to create your own ceremony.

Ceremonies must not have any religious content, must include any legal wording and be able to be completed within a maximum 40 minute time frame. This time frame includes the period when registers are signed.

Please click on the links below to see the scripts that are on offer for ceremonies in The Civic Suite and at outside venues (approved premises).

The options above do not apply to Register Office weddings (Register Office weddings are small weddings in an office with only two witnesses). Civic Suite weddings and weddings at approved venues can be personalised.

If you would like us to use any of the scripts above for your ceremony please let us know by email of your choice at least two weeks before your ceremony date. You can email us at registrars@haringey.gov.uk This is particularly important if you are having a ceremony at an outside venue. If you do not inform us that you wish to use a specific script, the person conducting the ceremony will use their own script which may differ from the options above.

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Words that must be included in a ceremony*

A wedding is made up of two parts which are the Declatory and the Contracting Words.

The Declatory Words

These words are at the start of the ceremony and must be included. The Declatory Words are shown below:

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I [name] may not be joined in matrimony to [name].

The Contracting Words

These are the legal words that marry you and these feature towards the end of the ceremony. The Contracting Words are shown below:

I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I [name] do take thee [name] to be my lawful wedded wife / wife - husband / husband.

Additional words can be added before or after the contracting words to complete your wedding vows.

Civil Partnership Words

Unlike a marriage ceremony there are no legal words that need to be said when forming a Civil Partnership. Most ceremonies do however include the following paragraph which can be included at any point in the ceremony.

I declare that I know not of any legal reason why we may not register as partners in law. I understand that on signing this document we will be forming a civil partnership with each other.

*Alternative words are possible on request. Please enquire in the Register Office for further information.