Ceremony Options Form

We would like your ceremony to be as personal and memorable as possible. To help us do this please complete a Ceremony Options Form.

This will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You will not have the option to save and return so please ensure you have all your ceremony information, including any readings or music choices before starting.

Please ensure you have read the Ceremony Pack before completing the Ceremony Options Form.

Where possible options forms should be submitted to the Ceremonies Hub for approval one month before your ceremony date.

Please note that forms received within 7 days of the ceremony date may not be processed in time. Your Registrars will do their best to accommodate your preferences, however the inclusion of some or all of your additions may not be possible.

Type of ceremony

Wedding

Civil Partnership

Renewal of Vows / Celebration Ceremony

Naming Ceremony

Ceremony Details

Venue

Venue Name

Name of ceremony room or outdoor location where your ceremony will be taking place

Room

Please be aware, the Winterbourne Suite is located on the first floor of Southover Grange with no lift access. This room is not accessible to anyone who requires assistance using the stairs. If you and/or any of your guests have accessibility needs please contact the Ceremonies Hub to discuss.

Will you or any of your guests require use of the lift?

As your choice of venue is not one of our venues licensed for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies, please tell us more about it below.

Please include: the address, what type of venue it is (e.g. family home, restaurant etc), accessibility and parking, potential risks (e.g. ponds, balconies etc), if there are animals and/or pets at the venue, any other factors that may affect the health and safety of staff attending.

Venue address (including postcode), Contact Name and Telephone

Date of ceremony

Time of ceremony

Room capacities include the couple, all guests (including witnesses and children) and any photographers, videographers, musicians and singers.

Please confirm how many people will be attending your ceremony.

Your Details

Full Name

Known As

Relationship to child(ren)

Home address

Telephone Number

Full Name

Known As

Telephone Number

Legal Ceremony Party

Ceremony Party

Will have any of the following?

Best Person

Person of Honour

Bridesmaids/Bridesmen/Brides Persons

Groomsmen/Groomswomen/Grooms Persons

Flower Children

None

First name of Best Person

First name of Person of Honour

How many Bridesmaids/Bridesmen/Brides persons?

How many Groomsmen/Grooms women/Grooms persons?

How many flower children?

Please provide details of any other people in your ceremony party and their role

Will have any of the following?

Best Person

Person of Honour

Bridesmaid/Bridesmen/Brides Persons

Groomsmen/Groomswomen/Grooms Persons

Flower Children

None

First name of Best Person

First name of Person of Honour

How many Bridesmaids/Bridesmen/Brides Persons?

Why have you chosen to have a celebration ceremony?

How did you meet?

How long have you been together?

Milestones in your life together

Other Information

(i.e. Memories, favourite places you’ve been, events you’ve attended, hobbies, interests etc)

About your family

Do you have any children?

Yes

How many?

Do you have any grandchildren?

Yes

How many?

Would you like them mentioned during your ceremony?

Yes

Please provide us with a little more information (names/ages)

Tell us about any other family or friends you would like mentioned or involved and why?

How would you like them to be involved? (Ring bearer, give a reading, etc)

Is there anyone else you would like us to mention?

Information about your child(ren)

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Favourite Things

Memorable moments

First words/actions

Cute habits/catchphrases

Is there is a special meaning or particular reasons you chosen the names that you have?

Please provide details below.

Legal Ceremony

Arrival

Before your ceremony both of you will be required to complete a short interview with your Registrars to check that your personal details are correct. You do not need to bring any I.D or paperwork and is your choice whether you are seen together or separately.

Your Registrars will meet you just before the ceremony to double check your ceremony details and answer any last-minute questions you may have. You can decide whether you would like to be seen together or separately.

How will you be arriving at the venue?

How would you like to be interviewed?

If you are being interviewed together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you are being interviewed separately, one of you should arrive 20 minutes before, and the other 10 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

If you are being interviewed together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you are being interviewed separately, one of you should be ready 30 minutes before, and the other 15 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

If you would like to be seen together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you'd rather be seen separately, one of you should be ready 30 minutes before, and the other 15 before the start time of your ceremony.

For the ceremony itself, we ask that your guests arrive 20 minutes before your ceremony is due to start.

Entrance

How will you enter your ceremony?

How would you like to enter the ceremony?

Will either of you be accompanied?

Yes

Who will be accompanied?

Who will escort them? (First name & Relationship)

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a parent and their child/friends/grandparent and grandchild is very special and never more so than on a day like today. So I ask, who stands here in support of & as they join in marriage?

Yes

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a Father/Mother and his/her Daughter/Son is very special and never more so than on a day like today. So I ask, who stands here in support of & as they form their civil partnership?

Yes

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a parent and child/friends/grandparent and grandchild is a very special one, and never more so than on a day like today. So, I ask, who stands here in support of & as they pledge their love and commitment?

Yes

Witnesses

You must arrange for two people to act as your witnesses.

Witnesses should be over 16, speak English and understand the ceremony.

We are unable to provide witnesses.

If for whatever reason you change your witnesses between now and your ceremony please let your Registrars know on the day during your pre-ceremony interview. There is no need to contact the Ceremonies Hub about this change.

Please provide the first name of your witnesses

Legal Ceremony

Witness one

Witness two

Legal Ceremony

Vows

Each of you will be required to say two sets of legal vows. The first where you declare that you are free to marry and the second when you take each other as partners in your marriage.

Please choose which vows you would like to say from the options below

Option 1:
I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I…. may not be joined in matrimony to…
& I call upon these persons here present to witness that I…..do take thee…..to be my lawful wedded wife/husband

Option 2:
I declare that I know of no legal reason why I…..may not be joined in marriage to…..
& I…..take you…..to be my wedded wife/husband

Option 3:
Reply ‘I am’ to the question ‘Are you…..free lawfully to marry…..?’
& I…..take thee…..to be my wedded wife/husband

Personal vows/promises

Would you like to include your own personal vows or promises?

Yes

A reminder that your vows cannot contain any religious content and must be approved by the Ceremonies Hub prior to your ceremony.

Please note the vows'to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part' are taken from the Book of Common Prayer, traditionally said during a church ceremony and can therefore not be said during a civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

You can send your vows by

Uploading a copy with this form
Writing them in the box below
Emailing them to ceremonieshub@eastsussex.gov.uk

If your vows are a secret from each other please send them to us separately to the email address above using the subject line 'Secret Vows'

Upload File

or insert below

Alternative choices

Alternatively, you may choose from the following

In the presence of our family and friends gathered here today I promise to give you, my love and friendship, to suport and comfort you, to care for you with love and patience, to respect and cherish you and to be faithful always. These promises I make to you for the rest of my life

Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you to be my partner. I am proud to be your [wife/husband] and to join my life with yours. I vow to continue to support you, push you, inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live

I would like to thank you for all the love, friendship, help, support and understanding that you have shown to me over the time that we have shared together and I promise to continue to love and support you through good times and bad. I will continue to be loyal, loving and faithful throughout our future together

I promise to go on loving you, to care for your needs and happiness, to support you in your aspirations and to share with you the difficulties. I promise you the help and comfort of a friendship and the loyalty and faithfulness of a loving husband/wife/partner in the years which lie ahead

I promise to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow and to grow old with you in love; to cherish and respect you for as long as we both shall live

Declarations

In order to form a civil partnership both of you must read the legal declaration below. This can either be read to yourself or said out loud.

‘I declare that I know of no legal reason why we may not register as each other’s civil partner. I understand that on signing this document we will be forming a civil partnership with each other.’

We would like to…….

Read it

Say it

Personal Declarations and Promises

Would you like to say your own personal promises?

Yes

A reminder that any personal promises/vows cannot contain any religious content and must be approved by the Ceremonies Hub prior to your ceremony.

If you would like to include your own personal declarations and promises, please upload a copy or insert them into the box below.

Upload File

Personal Promises

Or you may wish to use one of the declarations below

I….declare that I come here of my own free will and accord, and am free lawfully to enter into this bond with…..

I…….declare before those gathered here today, that I take you…….to be my lifelong partner, to love and to honour you, to trust and to respect you, and to be loving, faithful and loyal throughout our lives together

Legal Ceremony

Rings

Rings/gifts

Will you be exchanging rings?

Yes

How many?

Who will present the rings?

Will you exchange gifts?

Yes

What will you be exchanging?

Legal Ceremony

Readings

Would you like to include a reading?

Yes

A reminder that readings cannot be from a religious source or contain any religious content.

One reading or poem can be included in your ceremony.

One reading or poem may be included in your ceremony

How many?

Title

Read by (first name)

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by (first name)

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by (first name)

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Music

Will you have music played during your ceremony?

Yes

A reminder that music cannot be from a religious source or contain any religious content.

Which format will your music be in?

Please note musicians and singers will count towards the maximum number of people who can attend as per the room capacity.

You must provide your own music, please bring this with you to your ceremony and select one of your guests to play the music.

The Register Office has CD, Bluetooth and AUX available (couples must provide their own AUX cable).

You may use your own speakers/device, however, please note you will not be able to plug anything in unless PAT tested.

We would advise where possible that you download your music rather than relying on internet connection.

Please provide the first name of the person you have chosen to play your music.

How will your music be played?

Entrance

Artist & Title

Schedule Signing

Artist & Title

Exit

Artist & Title

Guiding Adults (up to 2 per child)

Who will present the gift?

Promises

Please choose which promises you would like to make to your children.

Parents' Promises

Please tick to choose from the list below.

We promise to give you roots to keep you grounded, and wings to give you freedom

We promise to share in your joys and guide you through any troubles

We promise to listen to you, even when the things you tell us are difficult to hear

We promise to encourage you to be yourself, and to love you for who you are

We promise to teach you to respect and value other people and the world around you

We promise to offer you a happy home, where you can live without fear or judgement

We promise to provide for you in every way we can, and to give you all we can

We promise to love you with all our hearts and cherish you forever

Personal promises

Guiding Adults’ Promises

Please tick to choose from the list below.

We promise to support you in everything you do, irrespective of success or failure

We promise to be there for your parents when they need us

We will offer you our friendship, support and guidance without condition or judgement

We will show you how to make the best of your life and be true to the values they have been taught

We will advise and encourage you I your choices as you grow up

We will always give our love and support to you

Personal promises

Grandparents' Promises

Please tick to choose from the list below.

We will use your life experiences and wisdom, and our own, to guide you without judgement

We promise to love, nurture and care for you to the best of our abilities

We promise to help you develop as an individual and make the most of your special talents

We promise to teach you to respect and value other people and the world around you

Personal promises

Legal Ceremony

Exit

For ceremonies taking place at Lewes Register Office - Southover Grange

Once your ceremony has ended you and your guests will exit to the rear of Southover Grange onto the terrace. Please be aware there is no ramp from the terrace to the gardens, users of wheelchairs and prams may need to exit the building via the front entrance and access the gardens via the public gates.

Public toilets are available in Southover Grange gardens.

Please use the gates, located in the corners of the gardens to access the road.

The gardens and terrace are owned and managed by Lewes District Council. Byelaws set by the local authority do not permit dogs (excluding assistance dogs) in Southover Grange Gardens, nor is the consumption of alcohol or throwing of confetti allowed inside the gardens. Not adhering to these rules may incur a fine. If you have any questions regarding the use of the gardens, please contact Lewes District Council. Contact us - Lewes and Eastbourne Councils (lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk)

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

(eg. Mr & Mrs Smith/Mrs & Mrs Smith-Jones/Mr & Mr Jones/Your first names/The Happy Couple)

Please specify

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

Celebration Ceremony

Ceremony Details

Venue

Venue Name

As your choice of venue is not one of our venues licensed for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies, please tell us more about it below.

Venue address (including postcode), Contact Name and Telephone

Date of ceremony

Time of ceremony

Number of guests

Celebration Ceremony Party

Will you have a best person?

Yes

Best person's name first name

Will you have bridesmaids?

Yes

How many?

Will you have groomsmen?

Yes

How many groomsmen?

Will you have pageboys/flower girls?

Yes

How many pageboys/flower girls?

Celebration Ceremony

Arrival

How will you be arriving at the venue?

How would you like to be interviewed?

If you would like to be seen together, please be ready 20 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony. If you would rather not see each other until the ceremony and meet the Registrar separately, one of you should be ready 30 minutes before, and the other 15 minutes before the start time of your ceremony.

Entrance

How will you enter your ceremony?

Will either of you be accompanied?

Yes

Who will be accompanied?

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

i.e. The bond between a Father/Mother and his/her Daughter/Son is very special and never more so than on a day like today. So I ask, who stands here in support of & as they join in marriage?

Yes

Would you like the Registrar to say a few words at this time?

Yes

Celebration Ceremony

Vows

Would you like to include your own personal vows or promises?

Yes

Please upload a copy

Upload File

Please insert below

Alternatively, you may choose from the following

In the presence of our family and friends gathered here today I promise to give you, my love and friendship, to support and comfort you, to care for you with love and patience, to respect and cherish you and to be faithful always. These promises I make to you for the rest of my life

I promise to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow and to grow old with you in love; to cherish and respect you for as long as we both shall live

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by (first name)

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Title

Read by (first name)

Please upload a copy

Upload File

or insert reading below

Music

Will you have music played during your ceremony?

Yes

Which format will your music be in?

Entrance

Artist & Title

Register/Schedule Signing

Artist & Title

Exit

Artist & Title

Please note that you will need to provide your own music

You will need to arrange this with your choosen venue.

Celebration Ceremony

Exit

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

Please specify

How would you like the Registrar to announce you to your guests?

Extras

The following ceremony extras are available to buy from Ceremonies in East Sussex.

Please call the Ceremonies Hub on 0345 60 80 198 to purchase your ceremony extras.

Silver plated certificate holder £25

Registrar’s fountain pen £15

Commemorative certificate £10

Please note one commemorative certificate is included in the ceremony fee paid on booking, unless you requested not to have one.

Special Requests

If you would like us to have any further information regarding your ceremony, if there is anyone you would like us to mention, or if you require any assistance please tell us below.

Social Media

We don’t mind if photos are posted on social media.

Please ask our guests not to post photos on social media until we do.

Please ask our guests not to post any photos on social media.

Consent

We consent to being contacted after our ceremony about featuring on the Ceremonies in East Sussex blog.

We consent to being contacted after our ceremony to complete a customer survey.

Privacy

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