Arranging a Civil Marriage in Dundee

The first step in arranging a civil marriage in Dundee is to decide when and where you would like to be married. In Dundee your civil wedding can be held anywhere within the City limits, other than a religious venue. This includes your own home, bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs in the City. You may also hold your civil wedding outdoors at any location within Dundee. Once you have decided on a day and time and place, contact the registrar to reserve the booking. In Dundee, you may book your civil marriage at the as far ahead as you like.

In Dundee you may also book your civil wedding for any day of the week, in consultation with the registrar, including Saturdays, Sundays and all public holidays, including Christmas Day. You may also be married at any time of day or night, in consultation with the registrar.

You can make a booking with the registrar in Dundee in person, by telephone or by email. We ask that you pay a non-refundable £110 deposit within 4 weeks of making the booking to confirm your reservation.

All the staff at 20 City Square will be happy to assist you in every way to ensure that your ceremony is tailored exactly to your wishes and that you truly have a day to remember!

Dundee City Council has several Council buildings approved for civil weddings, in addition to the Hollins Room, 1 Shore Terrace, Dundee (the Registrars main marriage suite). All public parks and open spaces in Dundee are also approved for civil weddings.

The Hollins Room, situated at 1 Shore Terrace, comfortably seats up to 58 guests

Mills Observatory

• Jupiter Room - 20 guests
• Dome - 20 guests
• Sun Terrace - 30 guests

Broughty Castle

• Castle grounds - 80 guests

Baxter Park Pavilion can accommodate 60 guests.

Nowadays there is no set format for a civil marriage ceremony in Scotland. Each District Registrar will have their own policy in relation to the civil wedding ceremony that they provide. Each couple however, must exchange vows during the ceremony, accepting each other as husband/wife and wife/husband.

The Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 allows great flexibility in the type of service that a registrar may provide and consequently many civil marriages now include live music, readings, promises, additional vows etc. In Dundee the registrars encourage you to make your own contribution to your ceremony, making each wedding a unique and personal occasion. The registrar will meet with you when you submit Notice and will discuss the ceremony with you. Once you have had an opportunity to consider what you would like to include in your ceremony, you can contact the registrar to arrange for a further meeting to discuss all aspects of your ceremony. Examples of readings, promises, vows etc. are available on our website, along with suggestions to help tailor your ceremony to your exact wishes.

If you are not to be married in Dundee and you have any special requests for your own marriage, you should ensure that the registrar is comfortable with your requests and will be able to accommodate these within the marriage premises.

You will require two witnesses on the day of your marriage. Normally your best man and bridesmaid would be given this responsibility. The only requirements for your witnesses are that they are aged 16 or over and that they are capable of fully understanding the proceedings. Your best man or bridesmaids need not be aged 16 or over however and it has even been known for a dog to act as ring bearer!

Please download and complete the Name of Witnesses Form and bring it along with you when you are giving notice.

For marriages at The Hollins Room and Baxter Park Pavilion silk flower arrangements will be provided for you on the day of your marriage. Should you prefer to provide your own fresh flower arrangement, please discuss this with the registrar who will organise a suitable time for their delivery.

• Marriages at the Hollins Room, 1 Shore Terrace
• Civil Marriage Venues in Dundee