Birth, marriage, civil partnership, citizenship and death

A renewal of vows ceremony is for any couple who wish to renew their marriage vows or civil partnership pledge.

These ceremonies are often associated with a special or significant marriage or civil partnership anniversary, but it can be held at any stage of a marriage or civil partnership.

It’s also suitable for couples who’ve married abroad and wish to have a celebration in Renfrewshire.

An authorised registrar or assistant registrar usually conducts it. 

However, these ceremonies have no legal standing and are not legally binding on those who take part. 

In Renfrewshire, you can have a renewal of vows ceremony at: 

• Paisley Marriage Suite (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
• Johnstone Marriage Suite (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
• Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall, or Johnstone Town Hall (Mondays to Fridays)
• another venue with a registrar (Mondays to Sundays).

Ceremonies at Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall and Johnstone Town Hall are managed by OneRen.

Find out about these venues on the OneRen website.

If you want a renewal of vows ceremony with a registrar at another venue of your choice in Renfrewshire. Contact us first so we can let you know if the venue is suitable and available for your ceremony.  

You’ll need to produce your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate when booking your ceremony in person. 

If you phone to book, you will need to produce your marriage or civil partnership certificate before the renewal ceremony.

How to order a marriage or civil partnership certificate.

After your ceremony, you’ll receive a ceremonial pack which includes a:

• renewal of civil marriage vows certificate, or renewal of civil partnership pledge certificate
• copy of the ceremony speech
• presentation wallet.

Contact us if you have any questions about booking a renewal of vows ceremony

You can book a renewal of vows ceremony up to 1 year in advance.

The balance of your ceremony fees must be paid at least 29 days before the ceremony date.

Renewal of vows at a registry office

On a Thursday or Friday, during office hours:

• renewal of vows pack £44
• conduct of ceremony £55
• accommodation fee (Thursdays and Fridays) £77

This is a total of £176. 

On a Saturday:

• renewal of vows pack £44
• conduct of ceremony £55
• accommodation fee (Saturdays) £235

This is a total of £334. 

Renewal of vows at another venue

Monday to Friday, during office hours:

• renewal of vows pack £44
• conduct of ceremony £55
• administration fee £171

This is a total of £270. 

On a Saturday:

• renewal of vows pack £44
• conduct of ceremony £55
• administration fee £286

This is a total of £385. 

On a Sunday or public holiday:

• renewal of vows pack £44
• conduct of ceremony £55
• administration fee £376

This is a total of £475. 

As part of our investment to improve our cemeteries we are carrying out significant upgrades to Hawkhead Cemetery.

The works include drainage, road resurfacing and kerb improvements to enhance the experience for those visiting their loved ones.

How long it'll take

Works will take place from Monday 25 May 2026 and are estimated to last six weeks.

Where the work is being done

You can see a map below outlining which roads and pathways are unavailable during this time, although diversions are in place to ensure all areas of the cemetery remain accessible.

The main entrance on Hawkhead Road is open for visitors.

However, The Scots Road entrance is not open to the public while works are going on.

Visiting the cemetery

We’re working closely with local funeral directors to ensure that all appropriate arrangements can be made and facilitated during the works.

All areas of the cemetery will be open for funerals and visitors using the signposted diversions.

Diversions will be in place to direct you to all areas of the cemetery. This may require you taking a longer route than normal.

During this time, we ask all visitors to:

• not enter areas that are coned off
• be respectful and stay on the main routes, taking care not to drive over graves or pedestrian paths.

We can issue a replacement certificate for a birth, death, or marriage that was registered in Scotland (from 1855 until the last full calendar year) or a civil partnership certificate (from December 2005 until the last full calendar year).

If the birth, death or marriage was registered in the current year, you can only get a certificate from the local authority where the registration took place.

If the registration took place outside of Scotland, certificates must be ordered from the country where the event took place. 
 

You can order 5 separate certificates and can order up to 10 copies of each certificate.

At the end of each online request, you’ll be asked how many copies of that certificate you require and if you require another certificate.

If you require more than these amounts, you’ll need to complete and submit the online form again.

The information you need to provide depends on the type of certificate you want.

Birth certificate

You'll need to tell us the:

• name
• date
• place of birth
• father's or parent's name
• mother's name (maiden surname).

Death certificate

You'll need to tell us the:

• name of deceased
• date of birth or age at death
• and date and place of death.

Marriage certificate

You'll need to tell us the:

• name of bridegroom
• name of bride (maiden surname)
• date and place of marriage.

Civil partnership certificate

You'll need to tell us:

• the names of the civil partners
• the date and place of the civil partnership registration.

Adoption certificate

Contact the National Records of Scotland to order a replacement adoption certificate.

Order a replacement certificate online

We'll post your certificate first class, and your request should be completed within 20 working days. There is no extra charge for posting your certificate.

If you've provided an email address, we'll send you confirmation of your order and another email when you order has been processed. Wait at least 20 working days before contacting us to check the progress of your order.

If we're unable to issue any certificates, we'll contact you by telephone.

The costs for replacement certificates are:

• Full birth, death, marriage or civil partnership extract (completed index) £15
• Full birth, death, marriage or civil partnership extract (no completed index) £10
• Second and subsequent certificate; of the same entry ordered at same time £10
• Abbreviated birth or death extract (completed index) £15
• Abbreviated birth or death extract (no completed index) £10 (free at time of registration)
• Special purpose birth, death, marriage or civil partnership extract £10.