Leeds Register Office offers couples the chance to renew their marriage vows in a civil ceremony.
This ceremony is for any married couple wishing to celebrate renewing their marriage vows in a unique and personal ceremony. It may be associated with a special wedding anniversary, or may be a wish to celebrate a renewed commitment to each other.
Important notice
Renewal of marriage vows ceremonies have no legal effect. The registrar who conducts your ceremony will not be acting in an official capacity even if they also work as a registration officer.
Similarly, the rooms which are used in Register Offices or elsewhere are not designated as marriage venues for the duration of the ceremony. These ceremonies are provided purely to celebrate the renewal of marriage vows in a unique and personal ceremony.
Contact us
Email
Phone
0113 222 4408
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we're open from 10am)
Can any married couple take part?
Any married couple, of any age and married for any length of time, can arrange a ceremony. You do not need to live in the area where you want to hold your ceremony.
How do we book?
To make an enquiry regarding renewing your marriage vows please call 0113 222 4408 to book a ceremony or to arrange a pre-ceremony meeting.
Please note that you will need to show your marriage certificate before you are able to book a ceremony.
A deposit will be payable on booking.
Fees and charges will vary according to the time, day and venue you choose for your ceremony.
Where do they take place?
Ceremonies are held at the Leeds Civic Hall or at a number of suitable, approved venues throughout Leeds. Any venue holding current fire and safety regulations and public liability insurance will be deemed suitable to hold a renewal of marriage vows ceremony.
Private homes are not considered suitable.
Information we may collect about you
The council has a statutory duty to register births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships and to administer citizenship services on behalf of the Home Office. Your information will only be used to assist us with your registration appointment and/or ceremony or your copy certificate application.
We will not share this information with anyone else unless we are required to do so by law.
Please
see our privacy notice for further information on how we process your personal data.
Cancelling a ceremony
Please note that we would normally only accept requests to cancel or rearrange a ceremony from one of the parties. Requests can be made by phone, by letter or email to
register.headoffice@leeds.gov.uk. We will confirm requests in writing.
We are unable to refund any ceremony fees where the ceremony is cancelled within 28 days (four weeks) of the ceremony taking place. Ceremonies cancelled between 56 days (eight weeks) and 28 days (four weeks) of the ceremony date will incur a fee equivalent to 50% of the ceremony fee.
Where is a ceremony is rescheduled during the above timescales and is then subsequently cancelled, the cancellation policy will be applied against the date the ceremony was re–scheduled, not the date it was cancelled.
No refunds can be made where no notice of cancellation or non attendance is received up to the time of the ceremony. Provisional booking administration fees cannot be refunded.
What happens at a renewal of marriage vows ceremony?
The ceremony will usually take 30 minutes. A typical ceremony may contain the following:
- Introduction
- Acknowledgement of any children of the marriage
- Reading
- Renewal of vows
- Re-dedication of ring(s)
- Giving of new ring(s) or gift(s)
- Words from previous wedding guest (often best man, bridesmaid or bride's father)
- Signing of certificate and closing words
Please note that the ceremony must not have any religious connection.
