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Booking a venue

Marriage or Civil Partnership is a matter of choice for the couple:

  1. A marriage is officially formed as the couple say the legal vows to each other during the marriage ceremony. The documentation signed at the end of the ceremony is a record of the marriage having taken place.
  2. A Civil Partnership is formed at the point where the couple and their witnesses sign the documentation. There's no requirement for any legal vows to be spoke, although many couples choose to sign their documentation at the end of a celebratory ceremony.

The government’s marriage and civil partnership policy paper explains the similarities and differences between civil partnership and marriage for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

It's important to first establish where you'd like your ceremony to take place before starting the process of giving notice of your intention to marry or form civil partnership.

You must contact the register office at least 3 months, but no more than 12 months, before you intend to marry or to enter your civil partnership

Civil ceremonies in Southwark

Southwark has a choice of stunning and unusual venues throughout our borough, including The Garden Room.

View the approved premises for civil ceremonies

Civil ceremonies at Southwark Register Office

Southwark Council offers two ceremony spaces at our office. The Garden Room, 34 Peckham Road and Southwark Register Office.

Ceremony at the Southwark Register Office, Monday;- £57

  • ceremony times - 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, (4pm April to September only)

The statutory ceremony at Southwark Register Office includes:

  • the exchange of the legal declarations (to be spoken after the registrar)
  • the exchange of rings and the signing of the schedule
  • one certificate which will be posted to you after your ceremony
  • ceremony duration is approximately 20 minutes or less
  • only two guests are allowed who will act as your witnesses, this includes a translator if one is required

Ceremony at The Garden Room 34 Peckham Road on Wednesdays - £171

  • ceremony times - 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm (4pm April to September only)

The basic ceremony on Wednesday in the Garden Room includes:

  • the exchange of the legal declarations (to be spoken after the registrar)
  • the exchange of rings and the signing of the schedule
  • one certificate which will be posted to you after your ceremony
  • ceremony duration is approximately 20 minutes or less
  • short time in the garden after your ceremony
  • no enhancements are permitted
  • the Garden Room can accommodate 37 people, the couple and up to 35 guests this includes any children and translators; this does not include one professional photographer

Ceremony at The Garden Room 34 Peckham Road, Thursday to Saturday - £346

  • Thursday ceremony times - 11.20am, 2pm, 2.40pm, 3.20pm
  • Friday ceremony times - 10am, 10.40am, 11.20am, 2pm, 2.40pm, 3.20pm
  • Saturday ceremony times - 10am, 10.40am, 11.20am, 1pm, 1.40pm, 2.20pm, 3pm, 3.40pm

The enhanced ceremony on Thursday to Saturday includes:

  • the exchange of the legal declarations (to be spoken after the registrar)
  • the exchange of rings and the signing of the schedule
  • one certificate which will be posted to you after your ceremony
  • ceremony duration is approximately 30 minutes or less
  • short time in the garden after your ceremony
  • personal vows, one reading, and your own choice of up to three pieces of music is permitted if desired
  • the Garden Room can accommodate 37 people, the couple and up to 35 guests this includes any children and translators; this does not include one professional photographer

Ceremony at an Approved Venue

If you decide to have your ceremony at one of Southwark’s approved venues you must check the registrars availability and book the registrars attendance. The fees for registrars at the ceremony are as follows:

  • Monday to Thursday - £661 (ceremonies are on the hour from 10am to 4pm)
  • Monday to Thursday after 5pm - £881
  • Friday or Saturday - £791 (ceremonies are on the hour from 10am to 4pm)
  • Friday or Saturday after 5pm - £951
  • Sunday or Bank Holiday - £841 (ceremonies are on the hour from 10am to 1pm)

How to book

To book a ceremony at our Southwark Register Office, The Garden Room or for a registrar to attend one of the approved venues in Southwark, send us an email with the following details:

  • full names of both parties
  • the nationalities of both parties
  • the date of notice appointment and name of the register office for both parties
  • the type of visa held by non UK / EEA nationals 
  • full addresses of both parties including the postcode
  • preferred date and time of ceremony
  • the name and address of your chosen licenced venue
  • telephone numbers of both parties 

Also let us know:

  • if you're enquiring about a marriage or civil partnership ceremony (this question is simply administrative)
  • if either party has been through a divorce or dissolution of marriage outside the UK (give more details)

All the above details are required from each couple to successfully assist you in securing your marriage or civil partnership booking.

Certificate fees

Please be aware that all ceremony fees includes the price of one certificate. You can apply for more certificates here.

All our fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Page last updated: 24 October 2022

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