Legalities
Sorting out the formalities - what you must do to get married in Scotland.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
You need to get hold of a Marriage Notice form. Do this by contacting the District Registrar's office in the area where you wish to marry. The offices can be found in the telephone book or go to www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

This notice declares that you are legally free to marry and must be signed and returned, together with your birth certificate and other relevant documents to the Register Office of the district in which the marriage is to take place, at least 15 days before the wedding. It's best to allow four to six weeks and if either party has been married before, six weeks notice is compulsory.

When your details have been recieved, the Registrar checks the information and then issues a Marriage Schedule. A date will be set and a notice of the marriage will go on public display at the Registrars Office.

CHURCH CEREMONY PAPERWORK
For a religious marriage the Schedule must be collected in person from the Registrar not more than one week prior to the ceremony and given to the minister or priest before the service; banns are no longer required. At the wedding the Marriage Schedule is signed by the couple, the minister or priest who conducts the ceremony and two witnesses - usually the best man and chief bridesmaid. After a religious ceremony the Schedule must be returned to the Registrar within 3 days for the marriage to be registered, so assign someone this important responsibility if you're going off on honeymoon!

CIVIL CEREMONY PAPERWORK
In the case of a civil marriage the Registrar keeps the Schedule in readiness for the ceremony. If the civil ceremony is taking place in an approved premise such as a hotel licensed by the local authority you must make arrangements for the venue to be in possession of the Schedule and staff there should be able to guide you.