Our rooms
The register office
This is a small room where we can fit the couple and two witnesses.
The Ceremony Room
This is our larger room where we can fit up to 56 seated guests.
Witnesses
Two witnesses are required by law and they can be friends or relatives.
Each witness should be aged 16 years or older. Younger people may be able to act as witnesses but this will need to be agreed with the registrar before the ceremony takes places (contact our register office).
Witnesses must be present throughout the ceremony and must also be able to understand the language that is used for the ceremony.
Ceremonies are usually held in English, however as Wrexham is a Welsh Registration District, you may choose for the ceremony to be in Welsh. In this case, your witnesses would be required to understand the Welsh language.
If both you and your partner are unable to speak English or Welsh, one of your witnesses must be able to properly interpret the ceremony for you.
This is a legal requirement because you must fully understand the contract that you are entering into under the civil partnership laws of this country.
Arriving at the register office
Please arrange to arrive with your guests at least 15-20 minutes before the time the ceremony is scheduled to start.
When you arrive, you will be directed to the waiting area.
Please allow for traffic delays and remember that we cannot delay the start of the ceremony for any latecomers.
The civil partnership ceremony at the register office
Your ceremony at our register office will begin with a welcome and introduction by the civil partnership registrar. They will explain that you will make a formal and public declaration of your love and promise of a lifelong commitment to each other.
Personal ceremony choices
You may exchange ring(s) or gifts and include readings, poems and music as part of your ceremony if you wish.
You can have music playing before the start of the ceremony and during the signing of the schedule (we provide a Bluetooth speaker which you can connect to for this).
Please note that, under the Civil Partnership Act, religious music or readings are not allowed in a civil partnership ceremony.
Sometimes couples ask to have a photo of a recently departed family member in the ceremony which we do allow.
After the exchange of vows
You and your witnesses can sign the schedule at this point. Once this has been done the civil partnership registrar will declare you civil partners in law. You may take pictures at the end of the ceremony.
Civil partnership without a ceremony
The registration of a civil partnership is usually very simple. If you wish, you can simply sign the schedule in the presence of your two witnesses and a civil partnership registrar, without the ceremony.
Please note that a simple registration does not include any personal ceremony choices.
Video recording and cameras
You are welcome to arrange for a video operator and/or photographer to be at your ceremony, but they must follow the rules set by the registration officers on duty on the day.
Photographs
Once all of the legalities have been completed there will be an opportunity for photographs to be taken, including the traditional ‘mock signing’ photograph.
You can also have photos taken outside the front of the Guildhall on the Llwyn Isaf and the Bandstand, if you wish.
Confetti
Note that we do allow confetti outside but request that you choose a biodegradable type – please avoid plastic or foil. We recommend using natural confetti made from flowers or herbs.