How to Book & Legal Steps
By accessing the "make a booking" button you will have access to our online diary. Here you will be able to:
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View dates and times for our ceremony suites and make an online booking
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Make an appointment to bring your paperwork into the office
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Book a registrar to conduct a civil ceremony in another venue
Submitting paperwork
Regardless of where in Edinburgh you are having your ceremony you must submit your M10's/CP10's and documentation to our Registration Service. It is advisable to submit your M10's/CP10's and documentation by appointment in person. You can make an appointment by selecting "make a booking" above and selecting an appointment to lodge notice forms.
Alternatively you can post your forms and documents to the following address:
Registration Service
Edinburgh City Chambers
253 High Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 1YP
Frequently asked questions
Download the Frequently asked questions - City Chambers
Download the Frequently asked questions - The Wee Neuk - City Chambers
Ceremony Enhancements
All our registrars are experienced and happy to offer help and advice with wording for your ceremony. We encourage couples to fully personalise their ceremonies and make it special for them.
A marriage or civil partnership ceremony is a dignified event but should be the type of ceremony that suits you both as a couple. We encourage you to personalise your ceremony by adding stories of
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how or when you met
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how life has changed for you both since meeting
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how much you are looking forward to your future and becoming part of a wider family group.
You can lighten the mood by adding readings, poems, songs or live music.
You may wish to write your own personal vows or include your personal promises to each other through the means of a traditional Scottish hand fasting ceremony. There are many other types of ceremony enhancements that couples can include, for example, unity candles, sand blending ceremony etc.
The only legal provisions that exists within the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 requires that you make the legal vows, your names are verified by the celebrant and you are pronounced as partners in marriage or husband and wife within the wording of your ceremony.
Civil partnerships follow the same booking and notice process as marriage. Couples should complete CP10 notice forms and submit them with the required documents. Ceremonies can take place in our City Chambers rooms, the Wee Neuk, or at an external venue.
We provide a booklet with many different examples of wording to get you started. If you require any help, please do not hesitate to phone any member of the team.
However, should you wish to have a simple straight forward legal civil ceremony we are happy to make sure that happens for you.
Please note: Any amendments to your ceremony wording must be uploaded to your booking no later than two weeks before your ceremony.
A civil partnership is a legal relationship entered by a couple, which is then registered and provides them with similar legal rights as married couples.
Civil partnerships were introduced in 2005 to legally recognise a same sex union. In Scotland from 30 June 2021 opposite sex couples can also enter into a civil partnership.
What are the differences:
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Marriage is formed by ceremony and vows, whereas a civil partnership is formed by signing a civil partnership schedule. Although a ceremony is not required some couples wish to have one.
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Marriage is ended by divorce, whereas civil partnership is ended by dissolution.
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All couples now have a choice of how they wish to seal their relationship.
If you are already in a civil partnership and wish to take the administration route to marriage, please contact us and a suitable appointment will be made for you.
Before the appointment you will be asked to read the information on changing a civil partnership to marriage and bring a completed application form with you along with
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your civil partnership certificate
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form of photo identification for both parties - normally passports.
If you would like to discuss anything connected to civil partnerships or conversion to marriage, please contact us at marriageandcp@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Ceremonies Outside the City Chambers
Our registrars can conduct your civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony at most venues across Edinburgh, including hotels, castles, restaurants, private gardens, and parks.
Ceremonies can take place any day of the week at a location of your choice.
If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, specific guidelines apply. For ceremonies in Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces, an application process is required and all necessary permissions must be obtained in advance.
Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking a registrar for an external venue.
You can check availability and make a booking via our online diary, located at the top of this page.
Download our link to have a look at venues the registrar's have recently visited.
Celebrate your special day outdoors surrounded by Edinburgh’s breath taking beauty and iconic landscapes.
Ceremonies in Edinburgh Parks and Green Spaces
How to Apply
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Submit your completed application, giving as much detail as possible.
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All required permissions will be obtained before permission granted
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Once your application is reviewed and permissions granted you will receive a permission letter and your event will be recorded in the Park and Green Space diary.
Wedding/Civil Partnership Photography In Parks and Green Space
How to Apply
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Submit your completed application, giving as much detail as possible.
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All required permissions will be obtained before permission granted
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Once your application is reviewed and all relevant permissions granted you will receive a permission letter and your event will be recorded in the Park and Green Space diary.
Terms and Conditions
Before booking a registrar to conduct your ceremony at your chosen venue please read our terms and conditions.
Specific guidelines will be issued to you if you have chosen a venue outdoors.
This only applies if you have booked one of our registrars to attend another venue.
Religious or Belief System Ceremony
If your ceremony is being carried out by a celebrant from a religious or other belief system for example humanists, please see the information below.
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It must be held in a place of worship or venue (indoors or outdoors) within the City of Edinburgh Local Authority boundary for Edinburgh Registration Service to process your notice forms.
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Your notices and documents should be submitted to the registrar at the City Chambers six to eight weeks (12 weeks if subject to immigration) before the date of the ceremony.
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Your notice forms will not be submitted unless the fees have been paid, information regarding this is found below.
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Once your notices have been lodged, a date will be issued to you by the registrar at the City Chambers informing you when your schedule will be ready for collection from that office.
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Your marriage or civil partnership will not legally be able to go ahead if the celebrant does not have a schedule in their possession at the time of the ceremony.
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When you pick up the schedule you will be informed of the requirement to have the schedule returned to the City Chambers office no more than three days after the ceremony. You will be provided with information on how this can be done when you collect your schedule.
Vow Renewal & Naming Ceremonies
Are you thinking of renewing your wedding vows to re-affirm the commitment you made to each other?Our Ceremony Celebrants will deliver a totally unique and meaningful ceremony to suit your personal situation in one of our ceremony suites in Edinburgh City Chambers or alternatively we can attend your own chosen venue.
Couples choose to renew their vows for many different personal reasons;
Couldn’t have the type of ceremony they would have liked due to financial reasons. Married during strict COVID restrictions with no family and friends present and would like photographs without face coverings.
Overcome an illness or situation in their marriage and want to re-commit to each other.
Absolutely loved their day the first time around and want to do it all over again.
As part of your Renewal of Vow Ceremony:-
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We’ll consult with you to discuss your ceremony requirements
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We’ll provide draft wording to help create your unique ceremony
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We’ll provide you with a commemorative certificate
Decide where and when you want to have your ceremony
A naming ceremony is a wonderful reason to bring together friends and family to celebrate the birth of a new baby or to welcome adopted or step children into your family.
Our Ceremony Celebrants will deliver a unique and meaningful ceremony to suit your personal situation in one of our ceremony suites in Edinburgh City Chambers or alternatively we can attend your own chosen venue.
As part of your Naming Ceremony:-
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We’ll consult with you to discuss your ceremony requirements
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We’ll provide draft wording to help create your unique ceremony
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We’ll provide you with a commemorative certificate
Continue Your Celebrations Here
After your ceremony, stay and celebrate with us. We offer drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts and evening packages in our elegant rooms — creating a seamless and memorable experience from start to finish.
Contact our events team to find out more: citychambersevents@edinburgh.gov.uk