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Government restrictions are in place for marriages and civil partnership ceremonies.
The NI Executive have produced a guidance booklet for marriages, civil partnerships or other celebratory events (link opens in new window).
If you have any queries, please email registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk with your contact details or call 028 9027 0455 and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Find out about our updates on marriages and civil partnerships.
If you are considering a date in the future to have your ceremony at an approved venue, please contact the registration office for availability and advice.
Email us at registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk and provide a contact telephone number.
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. Ceremonies can be at 12noon or 3pm, Monday to Saturday.
There are several places in Belfast which have licences to hold civil marriage and partnership ceremonies, subject to the availability of a registrar. You can view a full list of venues on nidirect's website (link opens in new window).
The following prices apply to civil weddings and civil partnerships in an approved venue:
Fees should be paid when you return your notice forms, before your ceremony.
You can find details of the ceremony format, including information about your dress, music and flowers in our marriages and civil partnerships brochure.
Under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we can grant other venues, such as hotels and restaurants, a three-year licence to hold civil marriage and partnership ceremonies, subject to a successful application.
A three-year licence to hold civil marriage and partnership ceremonies costs £400.
Please call 028 9027 0455 or email registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk with your contact details to request an application form. You will need to provide certain documentation with your application.
We will assess and acknowledge your application within ten days of receiving it. A decision will be made within three months, provided all the necessary requirements have been met.
We may also inspect your premises to make sure they comply with health and safety laws.
If your application is rejected, we will notify you in writing with a reason why your application wasn’t successful.
Under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we have to give public notice of all three-year applications. This means that members of the public have the right to object to your application, once public notice has been given.