Marriage Ceremonies

How to arrange a Ceremony in West Lothian

Marriage and Civil Partnership Ceremonies at West Lothian Marriage Offices 

• A maximum number of 50 plus bridal party people may attend a ceremony within our Almond Suite, Livingston Registration Office.

• The maximum figure encompasses all those at the ceremony, including Registrar, children, carer's supporting attendees and photographers.

How much notice do we need to give?

You can submit your Marriage Notice between 29 days and 3 months prior to your wedding however, we are requesting all documents 10-12 weeks prior to your ceremony.

Where do I hand in my paperwork

Please call our Livingston Office to book an appointment to submit your marriage paperwork. Livingston Office can be contacted on 01506 281897.

Bathgate Office cannot accept any marriage paperwork for weddings outside the Office.If you have any concerns or queries regarding the information above, please don't hesitate to contact our Registration team who will be happy to help.

Please check current fees with Registration Team. 

What kind of ceremonies are there?

There are three types of ceremonies in Scotland- Civil, Religious and Belief Ceremonies.

Civil Ceremony

A Civil marriage between two people (this includes same sex couples) can take place in a registration office or at a venue agreed by the Registrar.

Civil marriages can only be carried out by;

• A Registrar who has been authorised by the Registrar General
• or Assistant Registrar who has been authorised by the Registrar General
• see information on same sex marriage

Religious Ceremony

A Religious marriage (Christian or non-Christian) can be carried out by;

• Minister
• Member of the Clergy
• Pastor
• Priest
• or other person entitled to do so under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.

Belief Marriage

A Belief marriage can be carried out by someone authorised by the National Records of Scotland.

We are having a Civil Ceremony, how do we book a Registrar?

You can book a registrar online whether having your ceremony in a registration office or a venue of your choice.

You should contact the Registrar in the district where your marriage will take place well in advance to book your wedding. This is very important to secure the date and time. Advanced booking is very important for popular venues and times of the year.

For further information, please call us on 01506 281897 or 01506 282916 or email us registration@westlothian.gov.uk

• If you choose to have an office ceremony you will be required to pay an non refundable deposit of £55.00 which can be made either in person or by telephone. Office ceremonies can take place at ​Livingston Registration Office. Images of the venues can be found in the 'Related Documents' section of this page.
• If you choose to have a venue ceremony you will need to complete the Book a Registrar online form or print off and post/hand in this booking form (PDF, 91 KB)(opens new window) with a non refundable deposit of £100

• Complimentary Enhancements can be included in your ceremony and discussed with registration staff. (hand fasting etc.)

Marriage schedules

Religious or Belief Marriage

If you are having a Religious or Belief Marriage, either party to the marriage will need to collect the Marriage Schedule from the registration office, no earlier than 7 days prior to the wedding. This will not be issued to anyone other than the parties to the marriage.

The schedule then needs to be returned to the registration office within three working days of the ceremony, anyone can hand this into the office and your marriage certificate will be produced at this time.

Civil Ceremony

If you are having a Civil Ceremony, the registrar will bring the schedule to the ceremony. Once the ceremony is complete the registrar will return the schedule to the office to create your marriage certificate. This can then either be picked up from the office or posted out second class post.

Your fees include one marriage certificate. If you require further certificates please discuss this with the registrar.

Are you subject to immigration controls?

You should contact the UK border agency (opens new window) for advice on entry requirements to the UK under immigration rules for marriage and civil partnerships.

If you are unable to provide proof of your Immigration status in the UK or a valid Visa, your Marriage Notice period may increase to up to 70 days pending Home Office Clearance. If you are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland such as, for example, Australia, Canada, New Zealand South Africa or the United States etc. If you intend to visit Scotland to get married or to register a civil partnership, then you will need relevant entry clearance to enter the UK.