Weddings and civil partnerships

But the national effort to prevent the spread of Coronavirus means ceremonies must be conducted as quickly as possible and limited to statutory declarations only so that the marriage or civil partnership can be made legally binding. 

Restrictions include: 

• only four to attend a Register Office ceremony (the couple plus two witnesses) 
• Numbers attending a ceremony in the Leazes Room, Civic Centre, to be limited to 10 (the couple, two witnesses plus six others) 
• To shorten the ceremony there will be no readings, music, exchange of rings or photos inside the Civic Centre 

Cabinet Member for Public Health and Neighbourhoods, Cllr Irim Ali, said: “Following the easing of lockdown, Government has announced that marriages and civil partnerships can start again this Saturday. 

“As you might expect there are lots of new requirements to restrict the spread of coronavirus so people’s big days will be very different to what they had planned for. I understand this will be disappointing to many but with one major city already back in lockdown we must behave responsibly to prevent the spread of the virus. 

“We ask that people read the restrictions – you can find them on the council’s website – then decide whether or not they want to proceed with their ceremony or postpone it. 

“Currently, we are still not accepting new ceremony bookings - this is to give time to couples whose ceremonies have been affected to make alternative arrangements.” 

Couples wanting to make a new booking are asked to email registrars@newcastle.gov.uk with their preferred date, time and venue and they will be contacted when the office is reading to resume taking bookings. 

Couples who have booked ceremonies at approved premises should contact their venue to confirm if they are going ahead.