changing surname on deed poll and registering marriage

chanelle2

hi me and my partner want to have a small ceremony in the registry office and they said it would cost £33 each for the day of appointment when we fill out a form, then about £40 or £60 (can't remember) for the actual day itself.

i don't want to change my surname to his, but we want the same surname, so decided we will choose a new surname and i think that is done by poll deed.

at first i thought we would both change our surnames together, but then i thought if he changes his first, then we get registered, i will adopt his surname so i won't need a deed poll when he does?

but then i remembered i want to take off one of my names and keep my other name which i use more so keep it simple as chanelle ami stevens. this would mean we both need a deed poll? should i change my surname to the one my partner will change to at the same time?

another thing is the registry office said we need a solicitor to do that and they can't recommend anyone. i guess this will be very costly? i'm not sure where to start tbh.