Ceremony at licensed venue

themull1

daisiegg wrote: »

That's quite a bold claim though isn't it? What if you book a Saturday in July and there are already 10 weddings going on at the same time and only 9 registrars? Just curious as to how they can make that promise!

This message does not require a reply from anyone, it is just me idly babbling... :rotfl:

I was under the impression that at a push, a registrar can be brought in from another area by a particular council.

FBaby

themull1 wrote: »

I was under the impression that at a push, a registrar can be brought in from another area by a particular council.

My partner supposedly begged and pleaded, and he does have a lovely voice (it works with me!!) but to no avail, they said no can do. As a matter of fact, when I called to book the noon slot, she said that was extremely lucky this was still available considering it is a Saturday in September and she would have expected that time to have gone by now. Maybe recession is hitting the registrars too? We do live in a beautiful town by the sea with plenty of hotels, so maybe it is a popular place to marry even for those who don't reside here.

One thing that I don't understand (and I will ask at our interview next month) is why if there is a registrar available to do the ceremony at the town hall at that time, they can't do it at a hotel only 1 mile away.

cats2012

FBaby wrote: »

One thing that I don't understand (and I will ask at our interview next month) is why if there is a registrar available to do the ceremony at the town hall at that time, they can't do it at a hotel only 1 mile away.

I'll be honest - I'd ask this now!

ljbnotts

The registrar cannot always go to approved premises to conduct a ceremony even if it is 5 minutes away. It would mean taking 2 registrars out of the office when it is quite likely that they have a full day of ceremonies that run back to back. We have to think about the time to do pre ceremony interviews etc. Also there will be a price difference and also a difference in ceremony between a Register office and an approved premise. Approved premises will be more expensive because it takes 2 registrars out of the office for a set amount of time.

The quote from Kent County Council is true but the key wording is "you’re able to book". Not when you choose to have your ceremony, but whether there is availability for you to book.

To be honest over the summer we are really busy for weddings and it is not unknown for there to be up to 8 teams of 2 registrars every Saturday between May and October! These teams can be performing up to 10 weddings a day, so if your date and time isn't available that will be why!

Hope that sheds a bit of light on it!

LJB

FBaby

ljbnotts wrote: »

The registrar cannot always go to approved premises to conduct a ceremonyeven if it is 5 minutes away. It would mean taking 2 registrars out of theoffice when it is quite likely that they have a full day of ceremonies that runback to back. We have to think about the time to do pre ceremony interviewsetc. Also there will be a price difference and also a difference in ceremonybetween a Register office and an approved premise. Approved premises will bemore expensive because it takes 2 registrars out of the office for a set amountof time.

The quote from Kent County Council is true but the key wording is "youare able to book". Not when you choose to have your ceremony, but whenthere is availability for you to book.

To be honest over the summer we are really busy for weddings and it is notunknown for there to be up to 8 teams of 2 registrars every Saturday betweenMay and October! These teams can be performing up to 10 weddings a day, so ifyour date and time is available that will be why!

Hope that sheds a bit of light on it!

LJB

Thank you very much for this, it does shed some light indeed, although I have to say that I still fail to understand The matter of money is not an issue for us. It does indeed cost more for a ceremony at a venue anyway and we would be prepared to pay that amount. I don't understand why it would be such an issue for two registrars to be out of office if time-wise, it is only an extra 10 minutes all together. As a matter of fact, we would even be prepared to pay for a taxi, so it would be more like 4-6 minutes total. Surely any ceremony takes into consideration a possible delay of such a time? I've checked and the distance between the two is exactly 1.1 mile. I haven't asked yet though and I assume there is nothing to lose to try!

ljbnotts

I understand what you’re saying and we don't make the rules! I'll try and explain it!

For Example:

Weddings booked at

10am

10:30am

11am

11:30am

12pm

12:30pm

1pm

1:30pm

etc

If your wedding is booked for 12pm at the register office the groom would need to be there at 11:40am and the Bride at 11:50am for the pre ceremony interviews. The ceremony would take place and whilst you were still in the ceremony room, one Registrar will have to leave and start the interviews for the 12:30pm wedding. This is why they cannot leave and go to an approved premise and conduct a longer ceremony, plus travel time there and getting back in time to interview the next couple. The will be seperate team for approved premise weddings. Usually there is 2 hours per wedding to allow for travelling times, longer ceremony etc

I hope that makes a bit of sense! There is little room for error and if people are late they do run the risk of not being married. (yes it has happened! They have to come back at the end of the day and we will marry them then!)

On paper if your venue is only 5 minutes away the registrars could arrive for 12pm conduct the ceremony and travel 5 minutes back and start the next one but in reality with the interviews etc it takes much longer!

This is how it works in our area (district) anyway and I would imagine it is standard across England and Wales.

You could try asking but I wouldn't hold out much hope!

LJB

FBaby

Thank you I do understand (even if my heart doesn't want to!). I will ask, you never know, I had positive responses when I didn't expect them, but won't keep my hopes up.