So you’ve decided to get married and got engaged! Congratulations! You are getting married in Ireland? Another congratulations!
Although it does get cold here in the winter, Ireland is one of the hottest trending destination wedding locations on the planet right now! With an abundance of glorious romantic medieval castles, mansion house estates and luxury wedding hotels, it not difficult to see why. It can be a tough choice for modern couples to choose their wedding venue!
- Church or Non-Church Wedding?
The first thing for you to decide is: Would you like a Church or non-Church ceremony? There is certainly something very special and sacred about the tradition of a Church wedding. But, you either want it or you don’t, there is no in-between. Or is there? Well there just maybe!
There are many Religions from around the world now established in Ireland, including those like the Unitarian Church, the Universal Life Church (ULC), and so forth who recognise people from all faiths and none. If a Church wedding is your thing, then go for it!
- Legal or Non-Legal Wedding Ceremony?
If you’ve decided on a non-Church wedding, the first thing for you to decide is: Would you like a Legal Marriage ceremony, or a Non-Legal / Fake Wedding?
There are several reasons why a couple may choose to have a Non-legal or “Fake” wedding ceremony, including:
- When the couple are both living abroad and they already got married in their country of residence either with (or without) telling the family. Oh dear! In this situation, a non-legal wedding ceremony can be the ideal solution.
- When the couple are born in different countries and wish to have a wedding in each of their two countries. In this situation the couple may choose to have their legal marriage in the Registry office with a non-Legal wedding on another date, one wedding in each home country. Well that sure would be lots of fun!
- If either the husband or bride to be have been married before, it can sometimes be difficult, costly or time consuming to obtain the required paperwork to prove they are divorced and free to be married again, as required by law. In this situation it can be so much more convenient to be married in their country of residence and have a non-legal (fake) wedding here in Ireland as their celebration with family & long-time friends.
Please be very careful – there are a good number of people working as “Independent Celebrants” in Ireland who aren’t registered on the Register of Solemnisers and therefore are not recognised by the HSE to conduct legal marriages. They are registered instead with a commercial training organisation who isn’t recognised by the Marriage Act.
These “Independent Celebrants” are being very unethical by convincing couples to have their legal marriage ceremony in the Registry Office on a different day with their witnesses, and book themselves for a non-legal / fake wedding on another date.
Many Independent (& unregistered) Celebrants (and commercial training colleges) are falsely claiming the only way couples getting married in Ireland can have a personalised ceremony created to their own beliefs and wishes, is to have their legal marriage in the Registry Office and book an Independent (& unregistered) Celebrant for a unique & personalised (and fake) wedding ceremony afterwards, on a different date. This is very dishonest as it’s just not true.
This may have been true 15 years ago, but is no longer true at all. The Marriage Act of Ireland recognises three types of Celebrants who are authorised to conduct legal marriages, who are known as Registered Solemnisers. The three types of marriage solemnisers in Ireland are: Civil, Religious or Secular.
Number 1 question – would you like a church wedding, or a non-church wedding?
If a church wedding is for you, what an amazing day you will have! Decide on your church then ask your Priest what happens next.
A word of caution – be prepared in advance. Last minute bookings for church weddings are not really a thing. If you are not part of an Irish Church congregation it can be difficult to get the date you want in the church you want. Church weddings often must be booked well in advance.
Non-church wedding proceed to question 2.
Question 2 – for a non-Church wedding, there are three types of Ceremony Officiants who are HSE registered to conduct legal marriages. Your choice would depend on your beliefs and wishes.
Would you like:
a) A government non-spiritual and non-Religious Registry Office ceremony conducted by a govt Registrar, also known as a Civil Ceremony? Or ..
b) would you like a personalised unique ceremony as unique and special as you are created & conducted by a Celebrant who is authorised to conduct a legal marriage? If this is you, then proceed to question 3.
Registry Office / Civil Ceremony
If you’d like a minimum of fuss (and expense) and a completely non-spiritual government marriage ceremony, the Registry Office or Civil Ceremony would be more your thing. Contact your local HSE Civil Registration Office for advice and ask for a Civil Ceremony (another name for a Registry Office marriage in Ireland). For a small additional fee, the HSE Registrar can conduct your Registry Office marriage ceremony at an approved venue of your choice.
The Best Parts:
- A short and simple no-fuss ceremony
- There will be no religious or spiritual wording allowed
- You don’t need to pickup or bring your “Green folder” with your marriage license (MRF) for signing during your ceremony, the Registrar will bring this for you.
- You don’t need to lodge your signed Marriage License (MRF) back with the HSE Civil Registration office after your wedding day, the Registrar will do this for you.
Not so Good:
- Your ceremony won’t be unique, the same government wedding ceremony is used for everyone.
- You can’t include any spiritual or Religious wording or music.
- You can’t choose your Celebrant//Solemniser,’s name the HSE Registrar will be assigned to you..
- You can’t be late for your wedding either, because your Celebrant has so many other places to be on the same day to conduct more marriage ceremonies.
Question 3