By booking a ceremony with Devon County Council you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.
Losses due to events outside of the control of Devon Registration Service
Devon Registration Service is not responsible for delays, cancellations or amendments to the date or time (or both) of your scheduled ceremony that are outside of our control.
If the performance of our obligations in respect to your ceremony is affected by an event outside of our control (to include, without limitation, severe weather or flooding that substantially disrupts transportation routes) then we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and we will take steps to minimise the effect of any such delay, cancellation or amendment.
Provided we do this and have taken reasonable precautions to avoid the effects of such an event, we will not be liable for delays, cancellations or amendments caused by the event.
We strongly recommend that you take out appropriate insurance.
Legal requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure that all legal checks are completed within statutory time limits (see giving notice of marriage or civil partnership)
If you have divorce or dissolution papers from another country, the Registrar General must accept them. If there are delays that lead to the ceremony being cancelled or delayed, the cancellation and change policy with apply.
If your case is referred to the Home Office, the cancellation and change policy with apply if there are any delays. Please choose a ceremony date that allows adequate time for these checks.
Fees and payment
We will need to take a £50 non-refundable deposit (full balance for statutory ceremonies) which will secure your booking. This deposit will be deducted from your final fee. This must be paid within 5 days of your booking otherwise the ceremony will be cancelled.
For bookings made within 12 weeks of the proposed date, full payment is required at the time of booking
The full ceremony fee must be paid when booking or at least three months ahead of the ceremony. You can pay in instalments via the portal, but the full amount must be paid three months before the ceremony date.
If you cancel within 24 hours of placing the booking, you will receive a full refund, after 24 hours, change fees apply.
Ceremony rules
If you are late to your ceremony we may have to reduce the content of the ceremony.
The ceremony must be respectful and follow the legislation. Devon Registration Service will make the final decision about content of the ceremony.
If you or your partner are under the influence of alcohol or drugs the ceremony will not take place, you will lose the fee and will need to book again.
Witnesses and guests
You must have two witnesses aged 16 or over and they must be able to speak and understand English. Devon Registration Service staff cannot act as witnesses.
Two plus two statutory ceremonies allow only two witnesses. No extra guests (including babies and children) or photographers will be allowed into the ceremony room.
In all cases the number of guests must be adhered to in accordance with guidance on our website, additional guests will not be allowed into the ceremony room.
Arrival time
You and your partner must meet the registrars at the ceremony location 10 minutes before the ceremony start time.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes after the start time, your ceremony may be rescheduled to ensure that we can accommodate other bookings. If your ceremony is moved, you will need to pay the amendment fee.
Other requirements
You must bring your own interpreter if you need one, please advise the ceremonies team if this is the case. If you have booked a two plus two ceremony, the interpreter will count as one of your witnesses.
In other cases, they must be counted in the number of guests permitted and will be required to sign the schedule as a witness.
If you have a non-UK passport, it is your responsibility to enter the UK on the correct visa which allows you to have a marriage or civil partnership ceremony.
It is against the law under sec.25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 to get married to help someone stay in the UK. If the UK Border Agency stops your ceremony, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Cancellation and change policy
If you do not follow these terms and conditions, we reserve the right to cancel your ceremony. You will be subject to the cancellation fees below:
Cancellation and amendment conditions and fees
Cancelling your ceremony
- More than three months before the ceremony: The customer may apply for a refund of the ceremony and certificate fee (if paid) minus the current non-refundable deposit.
- Three months to eight weeks before the ceremony: A 50% refund will be applied minus the current non-refundable deposit and certificate fee.
- Less than eight weeks before the ceremony: If the ceremony is cancelled within eight weeks of the ceremony, certificate fees only will be refunded.
Amending date, time or venue
- More than eight weeks before the ceremony: An amendment fee of £75 is charged for each change made to the booking (this includes, times, dates, location, room and guest numbers).
- Less than eight weeks before the ceremony: If the date, time, location, room or guest numbers are changed within eight weeks of the ceremony a new booking will be required, and no fees will be transferred to the new booking. Refund of the certificate fee only will be given.
To cancel a ceremony
To cancel a ceremony please email ceremonies-mailbox@devon.gov.uk. Your email must be sent from the email address used to book the ceremony. We will contact you to confirm that the cancellation has been actioned.
To amend a ceremony
Amendments cannot be made online so please email ceremonies-mailbox@devon.gov.uk from the email address used to book the ceremony.
If you wish to amend your current booking, please do not book a new ceremony as deposits are non-refundable. We will contact you to discuss availability and to make the amendment.
You will be required to pay the amendment fee plus the difference in fees if you choose a ceremony with a higher fee.
You will also be required to attest your notice again and pay the statutory fee again if you change the location (and in some cases the date) of your ceremony if you have already given notice for the original venue.
To apply for a refund
Before requesting a refund, please confirm using the information above that you qualify to do so. Please also note the applicable fee to be refunded.
Refunds will only be issued to the card used to make the payment.
Refunds must be applied for at least six weeks before the ceremony date. Refund requests received after this date cannot be considered. Please email ceremonies-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.