A very short engagement?

aceygray

My partner and I have decided to get married after many years together. We would like to do this as soon as possible. We plan to have a small ceremony in a registry office with just immediate family present.

When I go online to make an appointment at the registry office to give our 3 month notice, I can't find any availability at all! This is the website http://www.crsappointments.ie/. You have to click on each individual day on the calendar to see if there is availability. After checking each day for the next two months and getting nothing, I checked a few random days for each month for the next year, and got nothing!

So it seems it's not possible to have a relatively short engagement in this country? We would like to be married by the end of the year, or early next year.

Any advice welcome. Would I have better luck emailing or phoning the office? Thanks!

davyboy1975

I would try calling into them at least you can ask them questions as you think of them as opposed to endless emails back and forth by which time any date you are looking for could be gone

davyboy1975

Just make sure you arent using internet explorer to check the dates as it very rarely works for that site

DavyD_83

aceygray wrote: »

My partner and I have decided to get married after many years together. We would like to do this as soon as possible. We plan to have a small ceremony in a registry office with just immediate family present.

When I go online to make an appointment at the registry office to give our 3 month notice, I can't find any availability at all! This is the website http://www.crsappointments.ie/. You have to click on each individual day on the calendar to see if there is availability. After checking each day for the next two months and getting nothing, I checked a few random days for each month for the next year, and got nothing!

So it seems it's not possible to have a relatively short engagement in this country? We would like to be married by the end of the year, or early next year.

Any advice welcome. Would I have better luck emailing or phoning the office? Thanks!

Sounds like the site may be acting up (not unusual for these type of sites), I'd give them a call or if that isn't working maybe drop into the office (if you really want to get it moving)

aceygray

Thanks davyboy. Do you mean actually calling into the office in person? Do they do bookings that way? If so, I might pop in on my day off next week.

DavyD_83

aceygray wrote: »

Thanks davyboy. Do you mean actually calling into the office in person? Do they do bookings that way? If so, I might pop in on my day off next week.

They definitely don't operate a walk-in service; I',m not sure the security guard is even meant to let you in the lift without confirmation of a booking in place, but if you turn up it may be the most direct way of actually speaking to somebody to get them to pencil in an appointment for you.

Try ringing first. If you can't get any response from the office you plan on attending, try another. they all use the same booking system as far as I know

davyboy1975

aceygray wrote: »

Thanks davyboy. Do you mean actually calling into the office in person? Do they do bookings that way? If so, I might pop in on my day off next week.

You can go in and make an appointment as far as I know at least I could down here in waterford. You need to make an appointment for you and your partner to go in and meet them first and they tell you what dates are available. Its the same as doing it online as the date you select is for an initial appointment to meet the registrar not of your intended marriage date, if I explained it correctly

ShaShaBear

I think ringing is your best bet. I know no-one will speak to you here in Monaghan unless you have already made the appointment either online or via phone. I called in for my appointment because the online booking system was useless!

aceygray

Ok, thanks for all the info guys. I am using chrome, not IE, so that's not the problem, but it may be a problem with the site. I had a look at some other offices around the country and there didn't seem to be any availability. So I'll try giving them a ring.

aceygray

Ok, I tried to ring yesterday and all morning today and can't get through. It just rings for a few minutes and then cuts off. I'm calling 8638200. Does anyone have an alternative number? Or when is the best time to call?

This is so frustrating!

DavyD_83

Try any of the other offices, much less busy (I assume), and more likely to answer the phone. Maybe try Kildare or Meath.
http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/bdm/contactus/Registrars_of_Births_Deaths_and_Marriages.html

Know I had an issue contacting the Dublin office before when trying to confirm some details. Can't remember who I rang at the time (maybe Cork, as we were getting married down there) but they were either able to resolve issue for me or request a call back from Dublin.

If they can't help directly, they might at least be able to advise on how is best to get in contact with the office.

Also, as far as I know, you can register in any of the offices, so if you can contact Kildare or another, it might even be easier to just go there (if you are able to drive etc).
Initial appointment is to register intent, while there you would also be able to arrange the date that a registrar is available and willing to marry you, if that is your intention (don't think this has to be the registrar you are speaking to, or even necessarily somebody from that office).

Sorry, was in 2013, a lot happened since then and can't remember the details.

stargazer 68

aceygray wrote: »

Ok, I tried to ring yesterday and all morning today and can't get through. It just rings for a few minutes and then cuts off. I'm calling 8638200. Does anyone have an alternative number? Or when is the best time to call?

This is so frustrating!

That's the right number - just have to keep trying I guess or try another office. Don't go in as you will be wasting your time.

aceygray

I want to say thank you to everyone who offered advice in this thread, and those who pm'd me as well. I managed to book a date in early November in the Bray registry office, so I'm delighted

Thanks again!

forestfruits

Glad youre sorted but remember you can book an appointment in any of the offices across the country so if you decided youd like to get it done earlier ye could try to get a booking elsewhere - maybe have a little night away too! any excuse!:p