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Kensington & Chelsea Register Office
Chelsea Old Town Hall
Kings Road
LONDON
SW3 5EE
Tel: 020 7361 4100
Fax: 020 7361 4054
E-mail: chelsea.registeroffice@rbkc.gov.uk
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We now offer three types of Civil Ceremony: Naming Ceremonies, Commitment Ceremonies and Renewal of Vows Ceremonies and are able to perform these at any of the Approved Venues within the Royal Borough. You do not have to live in Kensington and Chelsea in order to be able to plan a Civil ceremony here.
No two ceremonies are the same as the service is put together by you, creating an event that is as individual as you are and which you and your guests will cherish. Special people in your lives are welcome to take part.
You can download and print a pdf copy of our brochure [PDF file] (File size 920Kb).
A Naming Ceremony is an occasion for parents, family and friends to pledge their love and commitment to a child. It is an opportunity to celebrate the birth of a new baby or to welcome an adoptive child or step-child into a new relationship and to form a bonding within an extended family.
A Naming Ceremony allows supporting adults, grandparents and older siblings to offer assurance and guidance through their promises to your child. You can choose poems or readings to enhance the ceremony and may present your child with a special gift to mark the occasion.
Naming Ceremonies can be arranged by any parent, whether married or not, from any cultural background and with any spiritual or religious beliefs. There is no age limit to a Naming Ceremony and more than one child may be named at the same time.
This is a special ceremony for married couples who wish to renew their marriage vows in a unique and personal way.
Often a Renewal of Vows ceremony is associated with a special wedding anniversary but the ceremony is just as appropriate for couples at any stage of their marriage. It is a renewal of commitment, particularly relevant to those who have been through a difficult period which may have put a strain on their relationship. This ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to for you both to reaffirm your love for one another.
Many couples who have been married abroad choose to renew their marriage vows on their return at this special celebration in which their family and friends can share.
Your children or any other special people in your lives are welcome to take part.
“Our immense thanks and appreciation to all the staff who made our Renewal of our Wedding Vows such a special day. Just the right balance of it being a respectful occasion but in a relaxed and welcoming spirit, all of our guests had such a wonderful day.”
This is a unique celebration open to both same sex and heterosexual couples who wish to make a public declaration of their love and commitment to each other in the presence of their family and friends. Unlike a marriage, this ceremony has no legal status, but it is intended to be of deep personal significance. You are able to say your promises to each other, exchange rings and invite your guests to participate in the ceremony.
If you prefer, the ceremony may be held in private without any guests present. Either way this is a moving and intimate ceremony that is unique and meaningful.
Currently the venues that are available for a Civil Ceremony within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are those licensed for civil marriage ceremonies. This is because we inspect these premises on a regular basis and are satisfied that they are suitable for a gathering of this nature.
If you wish to have your Civil Ceremony here at the Chelsea Old Town Hall, then The Brydon Room, which has a maximum capacity of 40 people, is available seven days a week. We charge the same attendance fee for a ceremony in the Brydon Room as we do for a ceremony in any of the other Approved Premises in the Borough. The Rossetti Room with a capacity of 14 people is also available for a Civil Ceremony.
If you are planning a Civil Ceremony here in the Royal Borough your booking will be subject to a non-refundable booking fee of £30.00. There will also be additional fees to pay for the attendance of the Celebrant at your ceremony. These additional fees must be paid no later than two weeks before the ceremony.
The fees for a Civil Ceremony are as follows:
| Type of fee | Fee |
|---|---|
| A non-refundable Booking Fee: | £30.00 |
| Plus | |
| An Attendance Fee: | |
| Monday to Friday | £150.00 |
| Saturday | £200.00 |
| Sunday and Bank Holiday | £250.00 |
In order to make organising your Naming or Renewal of Vows Ceremony easier, we offer a range of exclusive stationery.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Naming Ceremony invitations (Per pack of 10) | £6.00 |
| Renewal of Vows Ceremony invitations (Per pack of 10) | £6.00 |
In addition, if you, or any of your guests wish to have a keepsake of the special day, there are commemorative certificates available for you to purchase. These will be presented to you, completed, on the day of the ceremony.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Naming Ceremony | |
| Commemorative Certificate | £3.00 |
| Parent’s Promises Certificate | £3.00 |
| Supporting Adults Promises Certificate | £3.00 |
| Grandparent’s Promises Certificate | £3.00 |
| Renewal of Vows | |
| Commemorative Certificate | £3.00 |
If you wish to arrange a Civil Ceremony then a provisional booking may be made with the Diary Manager by telephone, in person or by email.
Contact Details
Telephone: 020 7361 4100
E-mail: chelsea.registeroffice@rbkc.gov.uk
Once you have paid your Booking Fee you will be sent an information pack and booking form which will allow you to create the perfect ceremony.
You will need to read through the information pack which will inform you of the different choices available to you. You will then need to complete the booking form and post it using the stamped addressed envelope provided.
A script of the ceremony will be generated from your choices and the Celebrant conducting your ceremony will use this script on the day.
Please note that none of these ceremonies has any legal status.
Registration staff are not acting in their legal capacity when carrying out these ceremonies but as civil celebrants only. Any certificates issued after the ceremonies have taken place are purely commemorative.
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