Marriage vows and declarations

During the ceremony you will each be asked, in turn, to repeat the declaration and contracting words.

The Superintendent Registrar will remind the bride and groom of the solemn and binding character of the ceremony.

Declaration

First the groom and then the bride will be required to declare that there is no lawful reason to prevent them marrying each other. The declaration is repeated, a few words at a time, after the Superintendent Registrar. The usual wording in use at this office is:

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your full name) may not be joined in matrimony to (full name of partner).

Contracting vows

The Superintendent Registrar will then say a few words about what will happen next, before asking you to repeat the contracting vows. Once again, the bridegroom will be the first to repeat the words followed by the bride. The usual wording used at this office is:

I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (your full name) do take thee (full name of fiancée) to be my lawful wedded wife.

And

I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (your full name) do take thee (full name of fiancé) to be my lawful wedded husband.

Signing of the schedule

The ceremony will conclude with the signing of the schedule. Both of you will be asked to check the schedule to ensure that the details are correct. Once you have confirmed that the schedule is correct you will be asked to sign the document. Your witnesses will then add their signatures to the schedule.

Please note that it is very important that you check the schedule carefully because making any correction after signing can be a complex, lengthy process and will incur a fee.

The Superintendent Registrar and the Registrar will then complete the schedule by signing it.