COVID-19 Update
Following the announcement of England moving to Plan B to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus, masks are now compulsory in public settings where you are coming into close contact with people who you might not usually come into close contact with. For most people, this would refer to wedding ceremonies. Therefore, your guests may now be required to wear a mask at the ceremony to protect their own health and that of our employees, however we will not police this requirement. All attendees are also asked to undertake a lateral flow test before attending the wedding, and to stay at home if this tests positive or they are feeling unwell. This guidance may change if further clarification is issued to Register Offices by the Cabinet Office.
How do I reschedule my marriage or civil partnership?
You can check availability for a new date and then email us at [email protected] with your preferred new date and time. Your ceremony can then be rescheduled. If your ceremony is to take place in the Register Office, please contact us directly and we will let you know the next available timeslot. Please do not book a new time or date as this will charge you.
Do I have to wear a mask?
Although no longer mandatory, we will encourage you to wear face coverings once inside Chelsea Old Town Hall. Your Registrar(s) may choose to wear a face-covering during the ceremony and will conduct ceremonies behind the perspex screens.
Where do I arrive?
If your ceremony is taking place in the Chelsea Old Town Hall, on the day of the ceremony, we ask that you and your official guests arrive 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony so we can ensure, wherever possible, that it will start on time. You and your official guests should enter via the side entrance of the Registrars department at Chelsea Old Town Hall, on Chelsea Manor Street.
If you are marrying in an approved venue, you should liaise with the venue coordinator who will be able to advise you where to arrive.
What happens during the pre-ceremony interview?
Your registrars will need to do a short and easy interview with you and your partner before the start of your ceremony. You do not need to bring any documents with you to this interview – except in the rare circumstance that you’ve officially changed your name after giving notice but before getting married. This interview will be done in private and shouldn’t last more than 10 minutes.
If I choose to proceed with my ceremony, can I request a refund for having a smaller wedding party?
The cost of your ceremony is defined by the room that you choose and not the number of guests in attendance. An example of this is that there is no differentiation in price in the Brydon Room if a couple chooses to bring just two witnesses or four guests.
We therefore regret that we cannot partially refund your ceremony attendance fee based on the fact that fewer guests will be attending. You can choose to move to a smaller room if you wish but this will be subject to availability.
How do I know if my paperwork is still valid?
You have a year to get married or enter into a civil partnership from the date you gave notice of intention. If you are unsure of your notice date, please email [email protected] and we will email you back the date.
Who do I contact for more information?
We are dedicated to assist you as best as we can through this unprecedented time. If you have any questions that we have not answered above, please send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call on 020 7361 4100.