HomeCivil partnership ceremonies in a venue of your choice
You can form a civil partnership in a venue of your choice, subject to a successful application for a temporary licence, and the availability of a Registrar. Examples of such venues include your home, local community centre, hotel or restaurant of your choice.Apply for a temporary civil partnership licence
You must complete the application form below and return it to the Registrar's office as soon as possible, no less than three months and no more than six months from your chosen ceremony date.It costs £400 to apply for a temporary civil partnership licence.
- Download application for premises to be approved as a temporary venue for civil marriages (PDF - 105KB)
- three copies of plans of the location, showing the interview and civil marriage room
- copy of fire certificate (if applicable)
- certificate of public liability insurance
- copy of entertainment licence (if applicable).
- Download approved venue guidance leaflet (PDF - 191KB)
Your application will be assessed and acknowledged within ten days of being received. The premises may also be inspected to make sure they comply with health and safety laws.
A decision will be made within three months, provided all the necessary requirements have been met. If your application is rejected, you will be notified in writing and a reason given.
Under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we have to give public notice of all temporary civil partnership applications. This means that members of the public have the right to object to your application, once public notice has been given.
Bookings
It is very important that you check the availability of a Registrar for the day of your ceremony, and your chosen location, before you pay a deposit with the venue and submit your application for a temporary licence. Once this is confirmed, you should fill in your civil partnership notice forms and return the documents needed to the Registrar's office.Fees
The following prices apply to civil partnership ceremonies in an approved venue. Fees should be paid before your ceremony, when you return your notice forms.- weekdays - £206
- Saturdays - £273
- bank holidays - £305.
On the day
Full details of the ceremony format, including information about music and flowers, are available in our marriages and civil partnerships brochure.- Download marriages and civil partnerships brochure (PDF - 707KB)
- Download civil partnership checklist (Word - 63KB)
- Download list of alternative music for civil partnership ceremonies (Word - 13KB)
