The Ceremony Room

The formalities, both before and during the marriage ceremony are straightforward. There are a number of points that you will need to know, especially those relating to legal requirements.

Marriage Schedule

When the 28-day waiting period following your notice has expired we will print and issue your Marriage Schedule at Torbay Register Office. This is the legal document needed in order for you to marry which you will sign after the ceremony.

Witnesses

You will need to ask two people who may be friends or relatives if they will witness your marriage. They should be over the age of sixteen and be able to understand the Ceremony. There is no need for them to be worried about this. All they must do is sign the Marriage Schedule.

Please ensure that you have booked and paid for the correct number of guests prior to the day.

Arrival

Please arrive in good time for your appointment, ideally twenty minutes before. This helps us and any other couples who are having ceremonies on the same day. If you arrive late your ceremony will be delayed. The Superintendent Registrar may need to reschedule your ceremony to take place at a later time. This may inconvenience you and your guests. It could also spoil other arrangements you may have made for the day.

All guests must access Cockington Court through the Rose Garden at the rear of the building. The entrance to the ceremony room is accessed across the wooden bridge. You will see a bell on the wall. Please ring for the Registrar.

Please note the lanes approaching Cockington Court are very narrow. They are unsuitable for stretch limousines or similar vehicles.

When your party has arrived, the Registrar will see you in private to check the details on the Schedule. We will show your guests through to the Ceremony room to await your arrival.

We will ask you to give the details of your natural or adopted parents’ full names and occupations. We record this in the Schedule and on your Certificate.

Photographs and videos

Your guests are very welcome to bring cameras to record the occasion.

If you wish to video your ceremony, please let the Superintendent Registrar know before we start. We can then direct the person filming to the most suitable position.

Music

There is a Bluetooth speaker which can be used with a smart device if you wish. We recommend downloading rather than streaming. You will need to ask one of your guests to press play and stop at the appropriate time. Please note no music with religious content may be played.

The Ceremony

There is no need to be nervous or worried about the Ceremony. It is quite simple. Don't forget, the Superintendent Registrar is there to help and guide you through all you say and do.

Once your guests are seated the Superintendent Registrar will say a few words of welcome. We will then ask you, as part of the Ceremony, to repeat the legal vows. This is done a few words at a time after the Superintendent Registrar.

If you would like to include any personalised vows or readings, please email us your request.

Groom/Partner 1 first

You will then be asked in turn to repeat the following.

"I do solemnly declare that I know not

of any lawful impediment why I

(say your full name)

may not be joined in matrimony to

(say your partner's full name)

Then the Bride/Partner 2 will do the same

Then you both repeat the contracting words :

"I call upon these persons here present

to witness that I (say full name)

do take thee

(repeat your partners full name)

to be my lawful wedded wife/husband/partner."

Rings may be exchanged.

Registering your marriage

After you have made your Marriage Contract, the Registrar will ask you to sign the Schedule. You sign in the name by which you were known before the Ceremony.

We will add the details on the schedule to the electronic register. Your certificate can then be issued. We may ask you to wait for the registration to be completed and the certificate issued. If this is not possible, we will post your certificate to you as soon as possible.

Flowers

The room is always decorated with silk flowers, so you don’t have to supply your own.

Confetti

Please no confetti in the Rose Garden under any circumstances.

The Gardens

The office has attractive gardens which make an ideal backdrop for your photographs. Please show consideration for other visitors by not blocking access to paths, gates or doors.

Getting to Cockington Court

From Cockington Village, turn up towards the Drum Inn and follow the lane to the right of the building. Please follow the brown signs for Cockington Court Craft Centre. There is a pay-and-display car park at the rear of Cockington Court for you and your guests to use.

The Register Office is on the first floor of the Court. From the car park go past the sea change craft studios towards the main building. Turn left into the Rode Garden and enter the first floor over the footbridge at the lower end of the garden.