If you have a civil marriage in Dumfries and Galloway you can have the registrar's basic or standard ceremony, or personalise it with some special words, a poem or a reading.

Our registrars have experience in the legal and the practical side of marriages. They will be delighted to advise you on any aspect, from the documents you require to the personalisation of your ceremony.

Types of ceremony

Basic ceremonies

We have 2 basic marriage ceremonies:

1. Husband and wife, basic ceremony by registrar [DOC, 34KB]
2. Same sex couples, basic ceremony by registrar [DOC, 34KB]

Standard ceremonies

We have 3 standard marriage ceremonies:

1. Husband and wife, standard ceremony by registrar [DOC, 34KB]
2. Husband and wife, standard ceremony by civil celebrant
3. Same sex couples, standard ceremony by registrar [DOC, 35KB]

Alternative ceremonies

We have 4 alternative marriage ceremonies available. 

1. Husband and wife alternative ceremony 1, by registrar [PDF, 38KB] 
2. Husband and wife alternative ceremony 2, by registrar [PDF, 36KB] 
3. Same sex couples alternative ceremony 1, by registrar [PDF, 39KB] 
4. Same sex couples alternative ceremony 2, by registrar [PDF, 37KB] 

These can be personalised with your readings or poems. The registration staff will be happy to advise you on how to do this, with some restrictions:

• there are legal declarations you will have to say
• as you are having a civil marriage, you will not be able to have any religious content during parts of the ceremony

If you want an alternative ceremony you must contact us at least 5 days before your marriage date to arrange this. 

Contact our dedicated team of civil celebrants for advice on how to alter and personalise the marriage ceremonies: 

• telephone: 030 33 33 3004
• email: CivilCeremonies@dumgal.gov.uk

Timing and arrival

Everyone should arrive about 15 minutes prior to the ceremony.

The order of service in our civil marriage ceremony is usually something like this:

• welcome and introduction
• marriage ceremony
• declaration
• vows
• exchange of rings
• rings declaration (optional)
• closing words (optional)
• pronunciation
• signing of the marriage schedule

Our staff will make every effort to ensure that your day is both happy and memorable.