Your Essential Guide
To be legally married in Ireland, here are the four most important things you must to do first, to ensure your wedding ceremony is a legally recognised marriage. Not necessarily in this order:
1. Choose Your Celebrant/Solemniser
For a legal marriage in Ireland you must choose a Celebrant who is a Registered Solemniser of Marriages (like me!). If you choose a Celebrant who isn’t a Registered Solemniser, you will need to attend the HSE Civil Registration Office on another day with your witnesses for a Registry office marriage, which isn’t ideal for you.
If you choose me as your Celebrant/Solemniser your wedding ceremony will be a real legal marriage ceremony, if that’s what you want.
2. Choose Your Wedding Venue
You really are spoiled here in Ireland with a multitude of beautiful wedding venues to choose from. You can choose from the many castles, mansion houses and luxury hotels, or arts centres, and approved cultural sites throughout the country.
3. Choose Your 2 Witnesses
Your 2 witnesses must be over the age of 18. You will need their legal names and dates of birth for your marriage notification appointment.
4. Lodge your “Notification of Intent to Marry” with the HSE
If it’s less than 12 months to your wedding date, the first thing you must do, is to book your in-person appointment with the HSE to lodge your “Notification of Intention to Marry”.
Note: If you live outside of Ireland you can lodge your NOIM by email. (Don’t ever post original copies of important documents from overseas, as they can be lost in the post) Just contact the HSE office closest to where you will be staying in Ireland and they will email you the forms and information you. need.
Lodging your NOIM must be done at least 3 months before your wedding, or up to a maxium of 12 months before your wedding.
To attend your “Notification Appointment” you will need to provide your Solemniser name and Wedding Venue name and address.
If you don’t already have your Wedding Venue and Solemniser chosen, you can book your “Notification Appointment” with sufficient time in the future so you have time to choose these. (pick me!)
You should be well on your way to booking your wedding suppliers who will help make your day special.
Your Big Day!
.TA-DA !! Your big day is here! You are getting married! Remember to bring your green folder and MRF to be signed during your ceremony. Congratulations!
On the next business day (or as soon as possible within 30 days) return your completed MRF to the HSE Civil Registration Office to complete the legal marriage registration process.
Celebrant Guarantee
As a valued member of the Enchanted Ceremonies group of non-denominational Celebrants, Holistic Ministers & Solemnisers, there is always a backup Celebrant on hand in case of an unforeseen emergency - this is your Celebrant guarantee!
Your Special Day
If you believe your ceremony should be an important part of your special day, no matter how big or small your ceremony wishes may be, you have found the right place.
If you would like a ceremony as unique as you are - created to suit your own style, please don't hesitate to get in touch so I can answer any questions you might have - and to find out if I am available on your big day. I would be honoured to work with you!