Terms and conditions of ceremonies in other venues

This document sets out the terms and conditions relating to any ceremony held in a venue licensed by Bracknell Forest Council.

These terms and conditions of ceremonies are additional to the terms and conditions of booking appointments which you have already accepted.

By making a booking for any ceremony registration service the customer acknowledges and accepts these terms and conditions.

Pre-conditions of your ceremony

Bracknell Forest Council has booked your ceremony based on the following conditions:

  • no legal impediment to the marriage exists and that all legal preliminaries are completed within the statutory time limits
  • any foreign divorce or dissolution are accepted and cleared by the General Register Office (where applicable)
  • all fees due to Bracknell Forest Council under the terms and conditions of booking appointments have been paid in full
  • your ceremony will take place in a room or structure for which a licence has been granted for the solemnisation of marriages and civil partnerships
  • the room or structure will be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the ceremony

Ceremony content

Staff

Bracknell Forest Council will provide appropriate staff to conduct the legal formalities of your wedding ceremony and may substitute other experienced and qualified staff in the case of sickness or other unforeseen circumstances on the day.

Timeliness

You and your guests will arrive in good time (as previously advised). This will allow the ceremony’s preliminaries to be completed and make sure that all guests seated in order that the ceremony will start at the agreed time.

It is not the responsibility of the registrars attending to organise the guests. You must make adequate provision to make sure that all guests are seated to allow the ceremony to start at the agreed time.

Under no circumstances will Bracknell Forest Council delay any ceremony taking place after yours. If it is not possible to conduct your ceremony due to the lateness of you or your guests, you may have to cancel or re-schedule your ceremony (subject to availability and compliance with the terms and conditions of booking appointments). In both cases extra fees could apply.

The decision as to whether it is possible to conduct your ceremony due to the lateness of you or your guests is that of Bracknell Forest Council’s Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent conducting the ceremony and that decision is final.

Should the bride, groom and sufficient suitable witnesses be available at the time your wedding is due to start, we will not delay the start of the ceremony, should any guests be delayed for any reason.

Personalising your ceremony

You will have been supplied with a link to your ceremony choices to enable you to personalise your ceremony with your own choice of vows, music and additional vows, subject to the ceremony remaining appropriate and dignified.

It is your responsibility to fill in and return your wish list at least one week prior to the ceremony date. Failure to do so may result in a standard wedding ceremony taking place. 

You agree that any personalisation of your ceremony must contain no religious content whatsoever, which includes readings from passages contained in any religious publications or religious music.

Your choices for music (CD), readings, vows or any other spoken content must be submitted to the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent for approval prior to your ceremony.

It is your responsibility to liaise with your venue about the provision of equipment to play your chosen music, agree the appropriate media with the venue and to make sure that your music is able to play on the equipment prior to the ceremony date.

It is your responsibility to organise an individual to work the equipment provided to play your chosen music.

Should the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent need to refuse any submission of readings, vows, other spoken content and/or music, they will aim to explain the reason why. However the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent will make the final decision on any wording and music submitted and Bracknell Forest Council will not accept any liability for any omission or refusal.

You are responsible for making sure that the venue in which you are having your ceremony has the relevant copyright licence required for music, readings or other matters permitted at the ceremony. Any matter requiring a copyright licence may not be used at the ceremony without such a licence.

Decorating the ceremony room

It is your responsibility to discuss the above with the venue directly and adhere to all agreed requirements.

It is your responsibility to discuss the use of confetti or the scattering of flowers or any other matter with the venue directly and adhere to all agreed requirements.

Health and safety

The Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent Registrar conducting the ceremony has the right not to conduct any ceremony where they find that any part of the ceremony compromises the heath and safety of themselves and their colleagues.

You must make sure that no fireworks, candles or similar matter of any description are present or set off before, during or after the ceremony, either within the building or directly outside the front of the building.

No electrical devices are allowed to be plugged into any electrical sockets.

Smoking is not permitted at any point before, during or after the ceremony within the building.

Food and drink will not be admitted to the ceremony room any point before, during or after the ceremony.

Anyone obviously under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who is abusive, shall be asked by the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent conducting the ceremony to leave the ceremony room and the ceremony will not proceed should that person(s) not comply.

It is your responsibility to discuss and agree with your venue, the participation of any animals, including your own pets and adhere to all agreed requirements. Guide dogs may attend with their owners.

All children under the age of 8 years attending the ceremony must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult who will, if necessary, be asked to remove them from the ceremony room should they become distressed or disruptive.

The number of guests in the ceremony room must not exceed the capacity that the venue is licensed for. Guests include the witnesses for your wedding and anyone hired for photographs or video recording. Any additional guests over the licensed capacity will be excluded from the ceremony before the ceremony can start.

To avoid disappointment or confusion on the day, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have confirmed with your venue the maximum number they are licensed for and that this is not exceeded. Should the maximum capacity be exceeded, it is the responsibility of the bride and groom to make the necessary decisions as to who may need to leave and the ceremony will not start until the correct numbers have been met.

On the day of your ceremony

If marrying in an external Pavilion, any decision as to whether the ceremony can or cannot be conducted at this location (such as bad weather) on the day is the responsibility of the Superintendent Registrar or Deputy Superintendent Registrar and that decision is final.

It is your responsibility to make sure that your venue has planned accordingly to make sure an alternative licensed location is available, should the decision be made that the wedding is unable to take place outside.

You are responsible for making sure that there are adequate parking and facilities for you and your guests at your venue, including any disabled guests or those with any special requirements.

You and your guest will be respectful of other groups at the venue who may be using the venues facilities and be considerate of neighbours living in the vicinity of the venue, especially in regard to such matters as noise and parking. 

You must provide 2 witnesses for your ceremony. Bracknell Forest Council is not responsible for providing these. If either of you require an interpreter they must also act as one of your witnesses.

Witnesses should be over the age of 16 years and be able to speak and understand English. The decision as to whether a witness speaks and understands sufficient English to witness the ceremony lies with the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent conducting the ceremony and that decision is final.

If any of your guests cannot speak English and you wish an interpreter you are required to provide this at your own expense.

Guests are required to remain seated during the ceremony, while any official photographs are being taken and at the presentation of certificates.

Due to time constraints photographs are restricted to immediate family only (parents, siblings, grandparents and witnesses).

Any official photographer or nominated individual will be allowed to take photographs during the ceremony and in the ceremony room with your agreement, but they are not allowed to cause any unnecessary delays or interrupt the conduct of the ceremony at any point. Guests will be allowed to take photographs from their seats should they wish to do so, with your agreement.

It is your responsibility to discuss and agree where you can take photographs before and after your ceremony and adhere to all agreed requirements.

Liability

Bracknell Forest Council will not accept liability for:

  • any delay or loss caused by you or any of your guests late or non-arrival to your ceremony
  • any delay or loss caused by a request from you or your representative to delay the ceremony for any reason
  • any loss where your ceremony does not proceed or is stopped from proceeding once started, due to reasons including but not limited to the following:
    • it would be voided if it went ahead
    • an offence under the Marriage or Civil Partnership Acts would be committed
    • the marriage or civil partnership should be subject to Home Office scrutiny
    • a ban on group gatherings by parliament or government (for example in a pandemic situation)
    • either party decides not to go ahead with the ceremony
  • any loss or delay caused by a “force majeure” event, meaning any but not limited to the following:
    • war, civil war, armed conflict, terrorist attack
    • government action
    • fire, flood, severe weather conditions of any sort
    • pandemic situations
    • any other act or matter, which not withstanding the reasonable diligence and foresight of Bracknell Forest Council is beyond its reasonable control
  • the failure of any music system and/or recording/recorded media provided by the venue, you or a third party
  • any breach of copyright or licence further to the music, readings or other matters at your ceremony
  • failure, neglect, non-compliance or omissions caused by any venue which is not owned by Bracknell Forest Council
  • any delay or loss as a result of a decision that external conditions are such that a pavilion is deemed unsuitable for use and an alternative location at the venue needs to be used
  • any delay or loss as a result of your venue, failing to provide an adequate alternative licensed room if an external pavilion is considered unsuitable in which to conduct the ceremony

We strongly recommend that you consider taking out ceremony insurance to cover any losses or expenses that may be incurred should any of the above occur. We cannot recommend any particular insurance provider to you.

Complaints

Any complaint must be made in the first instance in writing to:

Superintendent Registrar
Bracknell Forest Register Office
Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell
RG12 1JD

Contact information

Bracknell Forest Register Office

Make an enquiry