Change in Marriage Law starts Nov 2007

littlepinkposie

Hi everyone,

Now that the law has finally been changed (coming in to effect in November 2007) and we are no longer limited to a church or registry office wedding, are any of you out there planning a civil wedding and if so where are you planning on getting married - I'm due to tie the knot myself next september (2008) and haven't a clue where to start.
My dream would be to get married in Inistioge - has anyone ever been to a wedding there?

All comments and suggestions gratefully recieved!!

Orion

Linky please? This is long overdue.

I might even get married now. There was no way we were going to do the church thing and the registry office is a dive. Now that we can chose our own location there's a few that come to mind: Botanic Gardens, couple of lovely hotels and castles around. Contact the Humanist society - they've been performing ceremonies for years in various locations.

littlepinkposie

http://www.groireland.ie/reform_of_marriage_law_2007.htm

Above is the link to the most recent statement from the General Register Office.

We are of the same mind, not a even a tiny bit religious so a church wedding, although it looks good, would be totally hypocritical and the registery office just seems so yuck!

Thanks for the tip, didn't think of contacting the humanist society!

Rabidlamb

I went through all this about a year ago & eventually had a Humanist Ceremony on a Hotel balcony with about a 100 guests. We still had to do the legal thing in advance in the Registry Office.

This was mooted a long time ago but gopt shelved due to decentralistaion (or so I was told). Anyway it could become law tomorrow but venues still have to apply for licences & you'll need to find a registrar to work outside office hours.

The registrar's are probably already dreaming of the brown envelopes.

bubblechip

Hi there,
Same question here - I've been thinking of a civil ceremony as well, and not keen on the registry office. I know all the usual paperwork required for a civil wedding, but not on having it outside the registry office. I've looked at the marriage reform updates, but I'm still not sure how to go about it. Does the venue apply for approval? Or do the couple have to apply to get the registrar to check it out? I can't find any info on the practicalities of arranging this, is anyone else organising it.

OP - I've never been to a wedding in Inistioge, but had holidays there before - gorgeous spot! Don't know much of venues in the area, but Woodstock Gardens would be beautiful for photos etc.

dollydishmop

Spoke to a nice man at the GRO office about this last week.

He said the venue would have to be inspected by the HSE and intimated that the bride & groom organise this.
But he then said that if the venue had already been inspected for an earlier wedding then it was just a formality and an easier process.

I also understand the venue themselves can apply to be inspected to be come a recognised wedding venue, if that makes sense.

So if its a one-off i.e your back garden or friend's house/property then you have to get all the inspections sorted and do whatever they advise to make it suitable for a wedding.

If its a venue that's likely to be a popular wedding venue e.g nice local hotel, country house etc, then its worth getting the venue to apply for the inspection.

bubblechip

Thank you! Better start making a few phone calls now...:)