Civil Partnership Ceremony

Although it is the signing of the Civil Partnership schedule which brings with it the legal rights and responsibilities, it is possible for the Registrar to make some welcome introductory remarks and to permit readings by guests. In this event, the Registrar would not be acting in their statutory role when conducting such a ceremony, but in a general capacity as a Government Officer, as any such ceremony has no legal standing.

The Registrar keeps your Civil Partnership schedule until the day of the ceremony.
It is important to arrange an appointment, before the ceremony, with the Registrar, to check that the information about you is correct and that there have been no changes since the Civil Partnership notices were received.
The Registrar will also have made prior arrangements with you about the content of your ceremony. Here, in the Scottish Borders we pride ourselves in providing a bespoke service which meets the needs of each couple.
Both parties to a Civil Partnership must make a declaration, required by law, that they are both free to commit to each other, and that there are no legal impediments to the Civil Partnership. This declaration must be made in the presence of the Government Officer and two witnesses.
You may wish to make personal promises to each other and the Government Officer will be happy to discuss this with you.
You may, if you so wish, have a member of your party read poetry or prose, or have special music played. There must, however, be no religious content to any of the material. Again, you must discuss this with the Government Officer before the Civil Partnership ceremony.

Rings/Tokens

The Government Officer will have ascertained beforehand whether rings or tokens will be exchanged by you and will have assured you that if you do not wish this, the absence of these will in no way affect the validity of your Civil Partnership.

Witnesses

You must arrange for two persons, aged 16 years of age or over, who are capable of fully understanding the proceedings, to act as witnesses to your Civil Partnership registration.

Music and Floral Arrangements

The Government Officer will have appropriate music on tape or disc, which may be played as background music if required.

Alternatively, after discussion with the Government Officer, you may provide your own music, or arrange for musical accompaniment (e.g. a piper or other musician). All Registration Offices have silk floral arrangements, but you may wish to provide fresh flowers.

Photography and/or Video Recording

The following guidleines are to ensure that photography or video recording does not detract from the dignity and solemnity of the occasion:

Photography
Photographers should not take photographs during the ceremony. There will be ample time and opportunity for photographs once the ceremony is concluded.

Video Recording
Video recording will only be allowed at the discretion of the Government Officer.
Only one video camera may be used during the ceremony.
The provision of all equipment is the responsibility of the operator.
Power for the equipment must be self-contained; the Government Officer will not provide any power source for the operation of any video equipment. The camera must have no trailing wires.
Only the normal lighting in the Registration Office may be used and no additional lighting can be introduced.
The operator will not leave the camera unattended and must undertake to remain stationary throught the ceremony.The instruction of the Government Officer must be complied with at all times.
Neither the local authority nor the Government Officer will accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused to the video recording at the Registration Office.

Fees

Consult the District Registrar or Government Officer for information on the current fees chargeable.

Civil Partnership Ceremony

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