Giving Notice of Marriage

If you are having a civil marriage or civil partnership in England/Wales you will need to book an appointment for both you and your partner to 'give notice' of your intention to marry.

It is a similar thing to have your Banns read in church however slightly different and more involved.

This is what the General Registration Office says about Notice giving:

For most marriages or civil partnerships you must give at least 28 full days’ notice at your local register office. You need to include details of where you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. Your notice will be publicly displayed in the register office for 28 days.
You may also need to give notice here if you plan to marry or form a civil partnership abroad. Ask the overseas authority if you’ll need a ‘certificate of no impediment’.

You will need to take documents to your appointment and many of those are dependant upon your marital status and whether or not you have changed your name in the past.


Here is a list of what you will need:

• Passport (Must be valid and in date.)

                         or

• Your full birth certificate (if you were born after 1st Jan 1983 you will also need to provide your mother's birth certificate. If your biological parents were married at the time you were born you can bring your father's birth certificate instead.)

                       and

• Proof of address (You may use your drivers licence providing it has your correct address and is valid. Bank statements dated within 1 month, Utility Bills dated within 3 months or your most recent Council Tax Statement are also acceptable. 

• If you have been married previously and divorced you will need to take your Decree Absolute. 

• If you have been married and widowed you will need to take in a certified copy of your husband/wife's death certificate.

• If you have changed your name in the past either through marriage or by a change of name deed the Registrar will need to see evidence of this. If you were divorced and reverted back to using your maiden name after receiving your Decree Absolute the Registrar will need to see your marriage certificate. You will be able to obtain a copy of this from the registration district or church in which you were married.

If you are in any doubt about the documents to take with you to your appointment, you should always contact the Registration Office where you are giving notice for clarification.

For more information follow this link to visit the General Registration Office Website: 

General Registration Office

Hope this helps and makes things a little clearer for you.

Good luck!

I'm getting married!

Surprise!!

Thats what we said when I planned a massive 'proposal party' for my other half on leap day this year.

We are now neck deep in wedding planning and with just 3 months to go until we 'tie the knot' I am just so excited. And before you ask, yes its going to be a Disney themed wedding. Eeeek!

I am going to be updating this blog regularly letting you know what we've got planned down to the tiny details and highlighting any challenges we have faced.

I thought I would link my proposal video here for you to enjoy. Firstly, the video asking my fiancé to marry me and secondly, the reaction video.

Proposal Video

The Reaction Video 

(I was really ill on the proposal day so excuse my sick appearance.)

Let me know what you think in the comments below and let me know if you are planning a proposal or have been proposed to recently. I would love to hear from you!

Love Mel x

Look Book | Sultry Bridesmaid Styles

Sultry Bridesmaid Styles

I have picked a sample of bridesmaids dresses that I feel will suit any and every type of ceremony.

They range in price from £13 to £195, proving that you can get gorgeous bridesmaids dresses on a budget. These would not only suit a wide range of shapes and sizes but also could be worn by the mother of the bride/groom. Very trendy.

I would love to see pictures of your bridesmaids dresses, post them below in the comments section.

Look Book | Maternity Bridal Wear

Maternity Bridal Wear

Some of my favourite bridal looks are actually from those who are expecting. They always have such elegance and seem so serene. Above are some examples of bridal gowns for the blossoming bride.

Bare in mind that any wedding dress you choose can be altered to allow for a bump. 

Oh and congratulations!

Amelia Lace Maternity Dress Long (Ivory) by Tiffany Rose
tiffanyrose.com

ASOS heart locket necklace
£7.47 - asos.com

Lily Silk Maternity Wedding Gown Long (Ivory) - Maternity Wedding...
£190 - tiffanyrose.com

Wedding Dress (maternity friendly)
indulgy.com

Booking your ceremony venue | The Happily Ever After Chronicles

Photographer: Luis Holden  |  Venue: Somerleyton Hall, Norfolk.

Deciding where you want your ceremony/wedding breakfast/evening reception is extremely important. There are a few things you need to consider when you are visiting your perspective venues…


What type of ceremony is best for you?
If you are getting hitched in the UK there are lots of different options open to you.

Firstly, you have the choice between a religious ceremony (held at a place of worship) or a civil ceremony that can either take place at a register office or an approved venue, (such as a licensed hotel for example).
If you had set your heart on an outdoors ceremony (pray for good british weather!) there is such a thing as a DUO ceremony, this basically means that the legal elements of the ceremony would be carried out in a licensed room either before or after your outside ceremony. For more info on DUO ceremonies you would need to discuss it with the registration office that is in the area of your ceremony as not all of them are able to do these types.

Is it going to take place in the area/county where you live? The area where your family live? Abroad?
Think about logistics here, is it a reasonable and ‘do-able’ distance for you both and your guests to travel to your chosen area/county?
If you have decided on a wedding ceremony abroad then you will need to contact the country’s authority/government dept to find out what information and paperwork you will need, how early this paperwork/documents needs to be with them and also how long this paperwork will be valid for. (Some countries ask you to present them with a ‘Certificate of Non-Impediment’ which is something you would then need to speak to your local registration office about getting.)

Key things to think about:
Location vs. Travel costs: Remember that if you are travelling a long distance it will cost you more in travel expenses. Especially if you are hiring cars/transport.
Disabled access: Do you have any elderly or disabled guests attending? When looking around venues check for disabled access and parking
Parking: Speaking of parking, is there any parking? A lot of inner-city locations may only have ‘pay and display’ or multi-story car parking which can leave guests with a large bill if they are there all day.
Accommodation: At the end of your day, are you going to be staying in your venue? A nearby hotel? Do they offer a discount for the wedding party rooms?
Venue vs. Photography: Is it a place that you can have nice photos taken indoors if the weather turns sour?

Whats included? (Some ideas of what to ask…)
Do you get drinks upon arrival? – Is there a bar?
Are seat covers included or do you have to pay per seat?
Is there a min/max number of guests for the room?
Can you have the ceremony/wedding breakfast/evening reception all in the same room?
Do you get special rates for wedding guest bedroom bookings?
Do you have good choices in the menu and is there an evening buffet?
Do you have to use their own in house DJ/caterer/florist? Beware! Some venues charge extra if you wish to use your own people.


Remember!
Haggle! The prices the venues set are not set in stone. If you want something thrown in to the plan then ask. Or if you feel uncomfortable asking outright then mention your budget and ask of anything can be done/swapped/exchanged.
The worst they will do is say no. What have you got to lose?

It’s your wedding! So DON’T let people bully you into changing your plans or doing something you don’t want to do. However, DO keep an open mind and don’t get annoyed or upset if somebody suggests an idea or highlights a problem.
Nobody likes a bride/groom-zilla after all!

Thought of anything else? Please comment below.

A Register Office Wedding | The Happily Ever After Chronicles

There are many venues around the country in which you can get married. 

Today I am going to tell you a little more about having a marriage ceremony in a Register Office.

In each registration district there is a Register Office. Usually these types of ceremonies are referred to as '2+2 ceremonies' and are reserved for the bride, groom and two witnesses. (Some councils will allow you to have any children that you and your partner have together in the room also.) These ceremonies usually cost about £50 and are simple, quicker ceremonies that are usually friendly, more informal and intimate.

If you are wanting to have more guests present at your ceremony, but not wanting a huge expense for your wedding day, many registration offices also have a 'Decommissioned Suite' which usually hold up to 50 guests. These ceremonies cost between £150 and £500. These are similar to having a ceremony in an approved venue, for example; you are able to have a photographer or videographer present for these ceremonies also.

Both of these ceremonies are 'civil ceremonies', although they may be smaller, this in no way lessens it's validity or importance as a marriage ceremony. You can arrive in full formal/bridal attire or you can choose to wear something more casual. You can have readings in your ceremony to make it more personal to you and even decide upon your own ring/token words.

It's your wedding day so it's completely up to you.

The prices above are not inclusive of the legal preliminaries that you and your partner will need to do. Giving notice is similar to 'reading the banns' at a church, it is done to get your marriage licence and these usually cost £35 per person.

If you have any questions about getting married in a Registration Office or are planning one for yourself I would love to hear from you.

The Perfect Spring Wedding | Eeek - Colour Schemes!

Planning your dream wedding may seem a little daunting and everybody seems to have their own take on what makes for a good colour scheme. I'm here to give you my two-pence of what I think works well based on the various ceremonies that I have seen each season.

Lets start with Spring...


The Chic Wedding

Pastel pink, coral, pastel purple, mint or pastel blue look so beautiful as a colour scheme. Light, bright and airy with a hint of romance. You can add candles and some oversized letters, balloons or paper lanterns for that extra bit of 'je ne sais quoi'.


The Classic Wedding

One or two pastel colours with gold accessories is a big winner for this coming year.
We are going seriously glam here. Think Marilyn Monroe meets the Dior J'Adore advert from circa 2011.


The Boho Wedding

For those wanting a natural feel to their wedding; pale green or mint as a main colour scheme with cream. Pale freshly cut wildflowers everywhere; daisies, poppies, forget me not's- a fresh fruit wedding cake. Candles, ribbons tied around fixtures... The possibilities are endless.


The Simplistic Wedding

White with additional bright colours or multicoloured accents. This will draw the eye and you can have a lot of fun with this... Think multicoloured shoes for each bridesmaid, multicoloured socks for the groomsmen, balloons, flowers, even multicoloured umbrellas for if the weather turns into 'English Springtime'.


Which would you choose for your perfect springtime wedding? Let me know in the comments below.

I'm famous darling! Don't you know who I am?! :P

This year I was given the amazing opportunity to be in our county's marriage magazine.
I'm so excited to be able to share this with you.
Being a registrar wasn't a career that I was planning but I wouldn't change it for the world!

Readings and Poems to have in your Ceremony.

Choosing to incorporate readings or poems to your wedding celebration is a lovely way in which you will be able to add a personal touch to the ceremony that your wedding celebrant or 'officiant' has prepared for you.

It can be quite daunting when deciding which to choose of which are suitable so I have grouped together some of my favourite readings, poems and quotes for you to read and use as you wish. During the ceremony they can be used to ease the tension on you and your partner after saying your legal vows and before going on to exchanging rings/tokens. They can be read by the bride, groom, guests or of course the registrar if you wish.

5 Steps to Hosting a Simple Engagement Party

An engagement party is the perfect excuse to get dressed up and see family and friends that you haven't seen for ages. They'll be wanting to congratulate you in person and it gives you an opportunity to introduce everybody before the 'big day'. Here are 5 steps to hosting the perfect party (with a few extra ideas thrown in for good measure.)

Your Engagement | The Happily Ever After Chronicles

So you're engaged?!
Congratulations!

Social norms and expectations can be a little daunting, especially if you are an anxious person like me, so I'm here to guide you through the whole process.