What are register office ceremony fees for?
A register office ceremony fee pays for the room, the registrars who conduct and record your wedding, and the marriage schedule. It is separate from the notice fee you pay earlier and is set locally, so it varies between councils rather than being a fixed national amount.
What the fee actually covers
The ceremony fee pays for the registration staff who attend on the day, the use of a register office ceremony room (or the additional registrar time if you marry at an approved venue), and the production of your marriage schedule — the document you and your witnesses sign, which is later used to register the marriage.
It does not include the notice fee, which you pay earlier when you each give notice, and it does not include any charge the venue itself makes for hosting your wedding.
Why the amount is not fixed nationally
Unlike the notice and certificate fees, which are set in national regulations, ceremony fees are set by each local authority. Two councils a few miles apart can charge quite differently for what looks like the same basic ceremony.
Weekday, weekend and bank holiday slots are often priced differently, and a bespoke ceremony with more content usually costs more than the standard short form.
Where to get the actual figure
Always check the current fee with the register office for the district where you will marry, or on your council's own website. GOV.UK explains what fees exist nationally but does not list local ceremony prices, since these are set council by council.
- Ask which room types and time slots are available and what each costs
- Ask whether the fee changes for a Saturday or bank holiday ceremony
- Ask what happens to the fee if you need to change your date
What this means for you
- Budget for the ceremony fee separately from the notice fee — they are billed at different points in the process.
- A quieter weekday slot at your local register office is usually the cheapest legal ceremony you can have.
- Get the figure in writing from the register office rather than relying on an old quote, since councils review fees periodically.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Fees for marriages and civil partnerships
- GOV.UK — Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026
Find your marriage route
Tell us where you each live and we'll show which register office district covers you and what your route looks like.
Find my marriage route60 seconds · Free · No account needed
Related questions
Related guides
Find your register office
Search our directory of register offices in England and Wales. Every entry shows when we last checked it against official council sources.
Simply Married is an independent planning service, not a register office or government department. Confirm current requirements and fees with your own register office and on GOV.UK.