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Renfrewshire community plan 2000 - 2010 Marriages
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The information below will help you plan your marriage ceremony. For general information on religious marriages, please contact the registrar in whose district the marriage is to take place.
You can see more information on marriages by selecting the links on the right hand side of this page:
Booking
- civil marriages may take place Monday to Sunday.
- you can book up to one year in advance, and you must pay a non-refundable booking fee.
- for marriages planned within three calendar months we must receive all relevant documents and fees when you make the booking.
- civil marriages may now be conducted at approved venues of your choice (outwith Registration offices) upon application. You can see a list of approved venues in Renfrewshire by using the link on the right hand side of this page.
- by law you only need two witnesses, normally your best man and bridesmaid. However, you can have other bridesmaids and so on in your total number of guests.
- please tell the registrar what your plans are.
- if the bride wants to be escorted into the marriage suite, you should tell the registrar at least one day before the ceremony. The registrar will then give advice when the bridal party and guests should arrive.
- if the bride does not want to be escorted into the marriage suite, the bridal party should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time and the guests should arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
- in either circumstances the person carrying out your marriage ceremony will be available to direct the bride and groom to the appropriate waiting area.
- you can, if you want, have your marriage ceremony video recorded. You will be issued with guidelines regarding photographs and video use.
- you should tell the registrar before the ceremony.
- after your marriage you can have photographs taken within the civil ceremony room.
- you must arrange the video and photographer yourself.
- there is a car park at the back of the Johnstone registration office but there are no car-parking facilities at Paisley Town Hall, Paisley or Renfrew registration offices. Parking is only available at weekends at the Paisley registration office.
- Paisley Town Hall - (Alexander Wilson Suite or Loggia Suite) - please contact the Paisley registrar for information.
- Paisley Registration Office - a new purpose built marriage suite has been developed at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley next to the Customer Service Centre. The marriage suite seats 64 (including the bridal party).
- Johnstone Registration Office - the entrance to the marriage suite is through the front side entrance. The marriage suite seats 48, including the bridal party.
- Renfrew Registration Office - the entrance to the marriage suite is through the front entrance. The marriage suite holds 12, including the bridal party. If you expect more guests, up to a maximum of 50, you can ask to book the committee room in the Town Hall.
- please note, all our premises are smoke free.
- approved venues - there are a number of Renfrewshire hotels which already have approved status for the conduct of civil marriages. You can see a list of approved venues in Renfrewshire by using the link on the right hand side of this page. Alternatively, you can apply to have the venue of your choice approved specially for the occasion. Contact the Council's licensing section on 0141 840 3498 to discuss the application process.
- we provide music and silk flowers at all registration offices. If you want to play your own music, you should discuss this with the registrar before the day of the marriage. You can arrange to see each marriage suite before your wedding day. At this stage you can receive further details about the ceremony.
Paisley Town Hall, Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew registration offices have disabled access and toilets. If disabled guests are coming to the ceremony you should tell the registrar beforehand so that seating arrangements can be made.
