Marriages

Arranging your day

We can help you organise your special day. If you plan to get married in Belfast, it is important that you read all of the information on this page. 

You will first need to decide when and where to have your ceremony before giving notice of your marriage.

Fill out our marriage and civil partnership enquiry form or call 028 9027 0455 to speak to us about your arrangements.

You can also view our marriage and civil partnership brochure for more information before arranging your day. 

Marriage notice

You must give at least 28 days’ notice to get married. If you don't give this in time, you may need to postpone your marriage. 

You can give notice up to a year before the date of your marriage. We recommend a period of 10 to 12 weeks notice for a religious or humanist marriage.

Before you can get married in Belfast, you and your partner will need to complete a marriage notice form and produce other essential documents. You will need a separate form for each person. 

Visit nidirect to download the marriage notice form (link opens in new window)

This still applies if you are having a religious or humanist ceremony. The marriage notice forms must be signed by the religious conductor.

How do I give notice?

• The best way is to book an appointment (link opens in new window) and we will see you in person. If you are having a civil ceremony, make sure you have spoken to the Registrars about booking your ceremony date before making the appointment.
• If you live outside the island of Ireland, you can give notice by post. Make sure you use the correct postage for your documents or we may not receive them. You can post your original completed notice forms along with relevant documents, to: Registration, Belfast City Hall, Belfast BT1 5GS.

Don’t post your original passport and birth certificate as we can accept photocopies. However, we will need to see the originals before your ceremony takes place and you can bring these when you collect your schedule. Call us on 028 9027 0455 to discuss and make your payment. You can also send a cheque, made payable to Belfast City Council. 

Documents you will need

These documents must be provided by both you and your partner when returning your marriage notice forms:

• your full (long version) birth or adoption certificate  
• your passport or national identity card - the Registrar can advise on alternatives if you do not hold either of these
• a consent form (if you are 16 or 17 years old)
• if you have been married before and the marriage was dissolved, a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree (decrees must be absolute or final)
• if you have entered into a civil partnership before, a court order of dissolution for that partnership
• if you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.

If you're a non-EEA citizen, read nidirect's information (link opens in new window) on getting married in Northern Ireland.

Civil marriages

A civil marriage ceremony can be conducted by a registrar or deputy registrar for the district in which it is to take place.

• Read more about civil marriages

Religious marriages

Religious ceremonies may, with the agreement of the Officiant, take place anywhere in Northern Ireland. Services are conducted by authorised people, according to the relevant tradition.

• Read about religious and belief marriages

Humanist marriages

Humanist celebrants officiate at belief marriages. For more information about humanist marriages, go to humanist.uk/northern-ireland (link opens in new window).

• Read about religious and belief marriages

Marriage fees

Marriage fees are payable in full at the time of giving notice.

Fees for Belfast City Hall Registrar's office

Fees for approved council venues

Religious marriage notice fees

Two notice fees (£22 each) will cost £44. 

Approved venue licence fee

A temporary licence for an approved venue will cost £400. 

• Find out more about approved venues

More information

Our prices are effective from 1 July 2024. For more information about our marriage and venue fees, email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0455.

Booking ceremony vehicles into City Hall

You can book ceremony vehicles into the City Hall courtyard for your big day. This is subject to availability.

For week-day weddings two spaces are available and four spaces are available at weekends.

To book a vehicle, email [email protected] and supply all vehicle registration numbers.

If you need to make a last-minute booking on the day of your ceremony, call 028 9027 0233 between 8.30am on Monday and 4pm on Friday. You should make bookings for weekends or bank holidays before 4pm on Friday.

Getting married outside of Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland and want to get married outside of NI, you may need to provide a document showing that you are free to marry.

In this case, you will need to complete a marriage notice application form to apply for a certificate of legal capacity to marry (Certificate of non-impediment).

You must submit your application in the district of your home address and proof of home address is required before the application will be accepted. The usual supporting documents for a marriage application are also required. A fee of £22 per certificate is payable on submission of the application. 

When the marriage notice form has been submitted, the certificate of legal capacity to marry will be issued after at least 28 days have passed. 

You will then need to book an appointment with us to collect your certificate. Appointments are available from Monday to Friday. Select the ‘short appointments’ option on the form to book your appointment.

Book an appointment

Once you have completed your booking, you will receive a confirmation email with further information about your appointment. If you don’t receive this, check your junk mail folder.

If you have any issues booking online, call us on 028 9027 0290.

Couples can also choose to have their legal ceremony in Belfast, or other districts in Northern Ireland, and then have a symbolic ceremony abroad.

For more information on getting married outside of Northern Ireland (link opens in new window), visit nidirect’s website .

More information

For more guidance on marriage procedures, visit nidirect.

You can also find details of the ceremony format, including information about your dress, music and flowers in our marriages and civil partnerships brochure.