Guest Author - Lisa Shea
A magical wedding in the Scottish highlands... the stuff that dreams are made of! If you are planning on getting married in Scotland, there are several legal hoops to jump through. The key to success, as always, is good research and preparation.
Always check with your embassy well in advance for up-to-date requirements. Many embassies recommend that you arrange your Scottish wedding through a professional agency, but here are some guidelines if you choose to do-it-yourself.
Documentation
The Registrar for the district in which the marriage is to take place requires the following documents:
- Passports
- Birth certificates – original or certified copies of long form including names of parents
- Evidence of termination of all previous marriages – original or certified copies of final divorce decrees, annulment decrees or death certificates
- Certificates of no impediment, issued by the civil authority of the country of residence (not necessary if the party has been resident in the UK for at least two years)
All documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by certified translations into English. If you were previously divorced in a court outside the UK, your divorce will need to be verified before your marriage in Scotland. This process can take up to six weeks.
You must be sixteen years old to marry in Scotland. Parental consent is not required.
Notice of Intent to Marry
Both parties must submit a Notice of Intent to Marry (Form M10) to the registrar for the district in which the marriage is to take place. This form should be submitted in the three-month period prior to your proposed wedding date. To be cautious, the recommended deadline is four weeks prior to the wedding date or six weeks if either party has been married before. Directory of Registrars in Scotland
You do not need to appear in person at the registrar’s office to submit your marriage notice, but at least one of you should appear personally before the marriage.
Marriage Schedule
No wedding can proceed without a Marriage Schedule. The registrar must be satisfied that there is no legal impediment to the marriage before a schedule is issued.
For religious ceremonies, the schedule will be issued only to the prospective bride or groom, in person. It will not be issued more than seven days before the wedding date. Before the ceremony, the schedule must be presented to the person performing the marriage. After the ceremony, it is signed and returned to the registrar within three days to ensure registration.
For civil ceremonies, the schedule will not be issued in advance. It will be available for signatures and registration at the time of the ceremony.
Civil Ceremonies
Civil marriages may now be performed at approved locations outside a registrar’s office. Make arrangements in advance with the local registrar.
For further information, contact:
General Register Office for Scotland
New Register House, 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH1 3YT, Scotland
Phone: 131 314 4447 or 131 314 4452
Religious Ceremonies
Religious marriages may now be performed anywhere – a castle, a beach, a lake or a mountain. However, it is wise to contact the local clergyman to verify his willingness to perform ceremonies in locations other than the church and also on marrying couples from outside the parish.
For more Scottish wedding venue ideas, contact:
The Registration Office
Central Avenue, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5AQ, Scotland
Phone: 1461 337648
National Trust for Scotland
5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DU, Scotland
Phone: 131 226 5922
Historic Scotland
Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH, Scotland
Phone: 131 668 8800
