To be legally married a couple can choose either a civil or a religious ceremony. Certain requirements need to be met in order for civil or religious ceremonies to result in legal marriages:
Religious ceremonies:
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Must take place at a religious building that has been registered to conduct marriages; and
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An authorised person (for example a religious minister) or a registrar must be at the ceremony and they must sign the “marriage schedule” or “marriage document”.
Civil ceremonies:
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These can take place either at a register office or a place that has been approved by the local council (for example, a hotel); and
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A registrar has to be at the ceremony and there have to be two witnesses.
At a religious or civil ceremony, a marriage schedule or document will be signed, which is then sent to the local register office. The marriage will be added to the marriage register and the marriage certificate is then given to the couple.
If you are not sure whether the place you had your ceremony was registered / approved for marriages, you could contact the venue and ask.
