Really need help - Registry Office

sambora

Hi there

Myself and my partner are not religious so we don't want a church wedding. We plan on doing the legal stuff here and then having a ceremony abroad the following week. Seems like the easier way to do it I think. Sometimes it's not fully recognized here if you get married in a different country... Correct me if I'm wrong?:)

Is it a better idea to have the humanist ceremony rather than a registry office ceremony? The registry office thing seems a little cold and I'd like a little more time than 10 minutes

Hope someone can help

totallegend

sambora wrote: »

Hi there

Myself and my partner are not religious so we don't want a church wedding. We plan on doing the legal stuff here and then having a ceremony abroad the following week. Seems like the easier way to do it I think. Sometimes it's not fully recognized here if you get married in a different country... Correct me if I'm wrong?:)

Is it a better idea to have the humanist ceremony rather than a registry office ceremony? The registry office thing seems a little cold and I'd like a little more time than 10 minutes

Hope someone can help

That's exactly what we did, had a registry office ceremony in Dublin, just ourselves and two friends as witnesses, went out for dinner and drinks, then we had a (non-religious) ceremony and party in Spain the following week.
For Spain anyway, it seemed the only way to get legally married there was to do it in a Catholic Church which we also refused to do (I think Italy is the same), and you can't get married at all in France if you're non-resident.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the registry office (the one in Patrick Duns Hospital), it would seat about 40 people if you wanted that, it's a very nice room and you could have music or readings if you wanted. We were the last ceremony of the day so I'm not sure how long you would have if there was another couple after you, but the registry staff were all very friendly and helpful so they'll be able to help.

I would definitely recommend it, feel free to PM if you like.

Of course, you're free to arrange for a registrar to come out and do the ceremony wherever you like, keep that in mind as well. I have no idea what is involved in a humanist ceremony I'm afraid.

tatli_lokma

AFAIK a marrige abroad is recognised here, provided it was a legal marriage in the country you married in and was registered in that country.

As for humanist v's registry office, that is your call, but if you are having a second ceremony abroad it could be quite expensive to have a humanist ceremony as you will still have to pay all the registry office legal fees and you will also then have to get a venue and pay for a celebrant.

Finally, the registry office does not have to be a 10 min in and out cold affair. Our civil ceremony was 50 mins, with music, poems and readings. We didn't have it in the registry office, but that makes no odds, you can still personalise it. And even if you don't the basic running order and legal things you have to say, includes the standard vows you would expect.

I can only imagine that people have this perception of a registry office being cold and business like because they have never actually been to a ceremony. Perhaps take a few hours off and pop over and view a few ceremonies and you might have a new perspective. The registry office is open to the public, so just slip into a few ceremonies and have a look.

Moonbeam

Registry office is probably easier. You ring them request a date then make an appointment do to the paperwork at least 3 months before the day.

Gatica

Little Ted wrote: »

As for humanist v's registry office, that is your call

A humanist and a registry office ceremony are very different things from an official perspective. The registry office ceremony is a legally binding wedding ceremony. Humanists have not yet been approved to hold legal ceremonies and therefore having a humanist ceremony in Ireland before having another ceremony abroad would be somewhat pointless, as you would still not be legally married.
Your alternatives are, have a HSE registrar come out to a venue where you want to hold your ceremony (cannot be outdoors, has to be in a publicly accessible place, etc.), or have a legally approved registrar from a denomination such as Spiritualist Union of Ireland or Unitarian Church.
From what you're planning it sounds like a registry office ceremony should suffice, as you will have a more personal ceremony abroad thereafter.