Combined Ceremonies

Couples wishing to find out more about this new and exciting  scheme can in the first instance call 0300 111 8001 and ask for Sam Jones.

Yes, only an authorised person such as an approved religious person or Registrar can legally marry you.  A civil celebrant can therefore not conduct the legal ceremony.

As the legal ceremony must be conducted in an Approved Venue within Staffordshire, for a combined ceremony this will be at the same venue at the same time.

If you wish to use a civil celebrant, you can contact an independent celebrant directly to discuss details of the ceremony you would like.  As long as the venue for your ceremony is an approved within Staffordshire, you can now combine the celebrant led ceremony by booking your legal ceremony with Staffordshire County Council in the usual way.

Registrars and the participating independent celebrant will then liaise with each other to incorporate the choices you have made for your legal ceremony with those made with the independent celebrant led service.

If a celebrant led ceremony was your choice, historically you would still need to legally marry, often on a different day without all of your guests etc.

You can now ensure that the legal marriage is on the same date and at the same time.

You may also wish to have parts of the ceremony in different locations at the venue.   A combined ceremony would allow the independent celebrant to continue your celebrations in other, non-licensed parts of the venue.