*PHOTO CAPTION: DARAGH DOYLE CELEBRANT & SOLEMNISER PERFORMING THE
WEDDING CEREMONY OF MARK & NICOLA AT THE MILL HOUSE SLANE IN OCTOBER 2021
YOUR KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Further to my recent in studio Interview on the Ray Darcy show on IRELAND NATIONAL BROADCASTER RTE Radio ONE which you can listen to on the link below, this is my ultimate guide to Ireland's Marriage Laws.
Daragh Doyle interviewed live on the Ray Darcy show on RTE Radio One about weddings in Ireland - click HERE to listen now!
HOW DO YOU REGISTER YOUR INTENTION TO MARRY IN IRELAND?
In Ireland, all couples must visit a HSE Registrar to register their Intent to Marry, NO LESS THAN THREE MONTHS prior to their intended wedding date.
At this meeting, you will be asked for the names and details of both spouses, both witnesses (over 18 years), your chosen Solemniser (Daragh Doyle - One Spirit)), your venue and your intended date. You will then be given your Marriage Registration Form (MRF) usually in a green folder, which you will bring with you on your wedding day.
I will request this in advance of the ceremony in order to check and confirm that all details are correct. During the ceremony it will be signed by myself, both spouses and both witnesses, and it is your responsibility to return it to the HSE Registrar’s office within 30 days of your ceremony.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The cost is 200 Euro
HOW DO YOU GET MARRIED IN IRELAND?
If you want to get married in the Republic of Ireland, contact your local civil registration service by phone or email.
You need to give them at least 3 months' notice that you intend to marry. This is the law in Ireland and it applies to all civil, religious and secular marriages.
You cannot get married until after the 3 month notice period. Your marriage date can be in any month or year after the 3 months.
HOW DO I GIVE NOTICE AND BOOK A MARRIAGE NOTIFICATION FORM?
Contact your local civil registration service by phone or email to let them know you want to get married. They will send you a postal notification form.
You will need to:
● complete and return the form by post or email - the 3 months' notice starts when the form is received by the civil registration service
● book and attend a notification appointment
PHOTO CAPTION: DARAGH DOYLE CELEBRANT & SOLEMNISER PERFORMING THE
CEREMONY OF JOSEPH & RACHEL IN THE WOODS HOTEL ADARE IN APRIL 2022
BOOK THE NOTIFICATION APPOINTMENT
Book your appointment as far in advance as possible. Waiting times may vary throughout the year and from region to region.
Both of you will need to attend the marriage notification appointment.
To book over the phone contact your local civil registration office.
You can also book a marriage notification appointment online for certain areas of the country.
NOTIFICATION APPOINTMENT FEES
The non-refundable notification fee is €200.
This is usually paid during the appointment or before the appointment over the phone. It varies from region to region.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE MARRIAGE NOTIFICATION APPOINTMENT?
You will both sign a declaration stating that you do not know of any legal reason why the marriage cannot happen.
If everything is in order, the registrar will give you a marriage registration form. This is sometimes called a marriage license.
You will need to bring certain documents and photocopies with you.
Photo Caption: The Armada Spanish Point April 2022
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO A COUPLE NEED FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT WITH THE HSE REGISTRAR?
Both of you must bring the original and a colour photocopy of the photo page of one of the following:
● passport
● refugee card/asylum card issued by Department of Justice and Equality
● national identity card from an EU country accepting them as a travel document
Photo ID documents must be in date.
You will also need:
● the original and photocopy of your birth certificates
● proof of address - original and photocopy dated within last 3 months
● your PPS numbers
If your documents are not in English or Irish, you must provide translations.
WHAT CEREMONY DETAILS DO THE COULE NEED TO PROVIDE AT THE MARRIAGE NOTIFICATION MEETING?
You will need to provide the following information about your ceremony:
● the type of service (RELIGIOUS, HUMANIST, CIVIL (PLEASE NOTE A PURELY CIVIL CEREMONY CAN ONLY BE carried out by an Employee of the HSE).
● name and address of proposed venue
● name of registered solemniser
● name and date of birth of both witnesses WHO MUST BE OVER 18.
WHAT TYPE OF CEREMONY CAN YOU HAVE?
There are three different types of Legal Ceremony where a registered Solemniser can marry you.
1) A ceremony Carried out by an employee of the HSE, this is a purely civil ceremony and can't have any religious aspect.
2) Humanist. This is a Secular ceremony and cannot have any religious aspect. Humanism is a very specific belief system and one should read into it carefully before choosing this type of ceremony.
3) Religious - The vast majority of Registered Solemnisers are listed as Religious Solemnisers which allows a religious aspect to the ceremony such as a remembrance candle, or a prayer.
Daragh Doyle Celebrant & Registered Solemniser is an Interfaith Celebrant and can carry out ceremonies for people of all faiths and none.
HOW DO I SELECT AN APPROVED VENUE?
Most wedding venues in Ireland will have approval by the HSE to carry out legal Weddings.
The venue must be dignified and suitable for a marriage ceremony. It must have enough space for those attending.
The venue must be either:
● a building that is open to the public
● a courtyard, garden, field or piece of ground that is open to the public and is near to and usually shared with the building
The venue must also:
● be clearly identifiable by description and location
● allow unrestricted access, without charge
● meet planning permission, fire safety and health and safety requirements
● have public liability insurance cover
● be accessible to all
● have no recent or current connection with any religion, religious practice or persuasion
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE GREEN FOLDER MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM DURING THE CEREMONY?
The Couple, the two witnesses & the Solemniser sign the forms in the appropriate places.
The Solemniser will guide this process.
The bride must sign in her current surname.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WITNESSES CANNOT ATTEND, OR IF THE SOLEMNISER NEEDS TO BE CHANGED OR MAYBE THE VENUE HAS TO BE CHANGED?
There is a section on the form where all these matters can be changed.
The changes must be initialed by the couple, the Solemniser, and the witnesses.
LIVING ABROAD AND GETTING MARRIED IN IRELAND
Contact one of the marriage registration offices in Ireland and they will issue you with a postal application.
You must then attend the in person meeting at least five days before the Wedding date.
Photo caption: The Summerhill House Hotel Enniskerry October 2022
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE GREEN FOLDER - MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM (MRF) AFTER THE WEDDING CEREMONY?
On the day nominate a responsible person for the Solemniser to pass the green folder to, and they should put it away in a safe place and return it to the couple the next day.
The MRF must be returned to your local Marriage registration office within one month of the Wedding, THEY WILL THEN ISSUE YOU WITH A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
WHAT IF YOU ARE DIVORCED?
You will need an original or certified copy, and photocopy, of your divorce decree. If there is a stay on the divorce decree, bring this too.
Contact the civil registration service for advice if you divorced in another country.
WIDOW OR WIDOWER?
You will need the:
● original and photocopy of the civil marriage certificate(s)
● original and photocopy of the civil death certificate(s) of late spouse(s)
IF YOU ARE IN A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP?
Contact a civil registration service if you wish to get married.
You will need the original and a photocopy of the civil partnership certificate.
PREVIOUS CIVIL PARTNERSHIP?
For a previous civil partnership, you will need the final decree of dissolution.
Surviving civil partner
You will need the:
● original and photocopy of the civil partnership certificate(s)
● original and photocopy of the civil death certificate(s) of late civil partner(s)
If you have a civil annulment
You will need the:
● original and photocopy of the civil annulment court order
● court letter and photocopy confirming there is no appeal lodged against the order
IF EITHER OF YOU WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF IRELAND?
If you were not born in Ireland, you will need a birth certificate with an apostille stamp.
The embassy or consular services in the country you were born in will issue the stamp. It verifies the genuineness of the signature or seal on a document.
You do not need to have your birth certificate stamped or verified if you are from:
● Belgium
● Denmark
● Estonia
● France
● Italy
● Latvia
● Romania.
You will also need:
● proof of address - original and photocopy of a utility bill
● PPS number - if you have a current address, or will have a future address, in Ireland
● nature of ceremony - civil, religious or secular
● name of the solemniser
● name and address of the proposed venue
● names and date of birth of both witnesses
● evidence of civil status - civil letter of freedom to marry
IF ONE OF YOU IS NOT AN EU CITIZEN?
Please bring up-to-date evidence of immigration status.
If you speak to each other in a language that is not English or Irish, you must provide an interpreter. You will also need to do this at the ceremony.
Interpreters must be from an independent verifiable translation or interpretation service.
IF YOU NEED TO POSTPONE YOUR CEREMONY?
If the new date is within the 6 month period, your form can be amended. If you need advice, contact the civil registration office that did your paperwork.
If you are not getting married within 6 months, contact the civil registration office and give them your new date. Do this at least 3 months before your new marriage date.
You will need to meet with the registrar again to get a new marriage registration form. There is no charge for this.
PHOTO CAPTION: DARAGH DOYLE CELEBRANT & SOLEMNISER PERFORMING THE
WEDDING CEREMONY OF JANE & MARTIN IN JULY 2022 IN COUNTY COUTH
THE GREEN FOLDER MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM ON THE ACTUAL DAY OF THE MARRIAGE?
PHOTO CAPTION: DARAGH DOYLE WEDDING CELEBRANT & SOLEMNISER CARRYING
OUT THE SIGNING OF THE REGISTER - GREEN FOLDER MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM (MRF)
AT THE K CLUB IN CO KILDARE IN AUGUST 2022
MOST IMPORTANT!! BRING THE FORM WITH YOU TO YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY VENUE
The most important thing to bring to the venue is the Green Folder as you can’t get married without it!!
ENSURE THAT THE FORM IS HANDED OVER TO THE SOLEMNISER ONE HOUR BEFORE THE CEREMONY
I'm always in the ceremony room at least an hour before the Wedding, and request the Green Folder be handed over at this stage so there is plenty of time to ensure that all is in order.
CHANGES CAN BE MADE ON THE DAY
There is a section on the form whereby the witnesses, the date, the Solemniser, can be changed if someone can't attend due to illness for example.
THE BRIDE MUST SIGN IN HER CURRENT PRE-WEDDING SURNAME
The bride must sign the register in her current pre wedding surname, the name can be changed after the marriage certificate is issued.
NOMINATE A RESPONSIBLE PERSON TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE GREEN FOLDER AFTER THE CEREMONY
I ask every couple to nominate a responsible person to hand over the green folder to after the ceremony, this should be put away safely in a room, and returned to the couple the next day.
THE GREEN FOLDER MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO THE MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE WEDDING
The marriage registration form must be returned to the registration office within one month. I recommend you do so as soon as possible after the wedding celebrations conclude.
I HOPE THAT GUIDE HELPS YOU.
CONTACT ME ON DARAGH@DARAGHDOYLE.COM IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO HELP
Comments