Getting Married

Important changes to the law in relation to marriages from 1st February 2005

Preliminaries to marriages involving foreign nationals can no longer be arranged through the District Register Office where the parties live. Arrangements are now to be made by both parties attending together at a “Designated Register Office”. Couples wishing to be married are advised to consult the Home Office Immigration Service beforehand as it may be necessary to obtain a Certificate of Approval before the details of the marriage can be taken.

The above advice is relevant to Foreign Nationals subject to Immigration Control i.e. a Foreign National who does not have a Certificate of Entitlement in their passport giving them the right of Abode in the UK.

For further advice please contact:

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY

Tel: 0870 606 7766

Click here to visit the Home Office website.

You must first of all decide where it is you want to be married and when. A notice of marriage (the legal process required by all parties to forthcoming marriages) can be given up to 12 months in advance of the date of the wedding.

You can choose to be married in many locations. The following links can tell you more about a particular location:

• Oldham Register Office
• A Church in Oldham
• Approved Venues Licensed for Civil Marriages within Oldham
• Outside Oldham
• Outside the UK

Enhancements such as music, poetry, readings may be incorporated in to the wedding service provided they are of a non religious nature. It is possible to make an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar who will perform the ceremony to discuss your wishes.

You can download copies of:

• The Marriage Ceremony (PDF 37Kb)
• Wedding Readings (PDF 25Kb)
• The Renewal of Marriage Vows Ceremony (PDF 16Kb)
• Oldham Register Office Brochure (PDF 2150Kb)
• Getting Married Fact Sheet (PDF 62Kb)

Times Available for Marriages

Marriage Fees

The fees shown below are correct as of 1st April 2006.

For further information, you can contact the Registrars at: Oldham Register Office

Chadderton Town Hall
Middleton Road
Chadderton
Oldham
OL9 6PP.

Telephone: 0161 770 8960
Fax: 0161 770 3729
E-mail: registrars@oldham.gov.uk

If you wish to visit the Register Office, please telephone our appointment line first on:
0161 770 3708

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Oldham Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UT.
Telephone 0161 770 3000