Civil Registry

The Civil Registry ceremony is the legally binding marriage ceremony conducted by a registrar, required for all marriages in the UK regardless of religious tradition. For South Asian couples, the civil ceremony is often a separate, smaller event held before or after the main religious ceremony — sometimes the day before, sometimes a few weeks earlier to reduce complexity on the main wedding day.

Some couples choose to hold their civil ceremony at a licensed venue that can accommodate both the legal and religious elements on the same day, though this requires careful coordination with registrars. The ceremony itself is typically 20 to 30 minutes and involves the exchange of legal vows and signing of the marriage register in the presence of two witnesses.

For South Asian weddings, the civil ceremony is frequently low-key: a small gathering of 10 to 40 close family members, often followed by a celebratory lunch or dinner. Key vendors: photographer (for intimate documentary coverage), and venue if not at a register office.