getting Married in ireland?

A Guide to Getting Married in Ireland with a Legal Marriage Celebrant in 2026

Welcome, so you have decided to enjoy the flexibility and freedom of getting married with the services of a Wedding Celebrant, who is also a Registered Solemniser of Marriages. I have created this step by step guide to make the whole process as simple as possible for you both whilst also obeying my obligation to the state, to adhere to the Marriage Act 2015.

It is important to remind you that the Health Service Executive of Ireland (HSE) Civil Registration Service look after all registrations of marriages in the Republic of Ireland. You will be notifying them of your intent to marry and the both of you will attend a meeting called a Marriage Notification Appointment with the Registrar. They will check all of your details and assess if you are legally free to marry. More about that below. First things first , they will need to know the Name of Your Solemniser, the Date you intend to marry and the Venue of your marriage. So................

Step 1. Choose Your Wedding Date & Venue

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

Congratulations!!!! You have your wedding date and venue. Next.......

Step 2. Choose Your Marriage Solemniser

You need a Celebrant who is a Registered Solemniser of Marriages within the state. I am one of these! Check if they are available to marry you on the date you chose and book them.

Next, to get married in Ireland you need to get a Marriage Registration Form (MRF). You get this from a HSE Civil Registration Service office. It is sometimes called a marriage licence and also we will be calling it The Green Folder (pictured above).

You bring the marriage registration form/green folder to your marriage ceremony. The person marrying you (your celebrant) will sign the form and solemnise the marriage.

Step 3. Make a Marriage Notification Appointment

To get a marriage registration form you need to give your local HSE Civil Registration Office 3 months' notice that you intend to get married.

To do this you need to book a Marriage Notification Appointment. The appointment needs to be at least 3 months before you intend to get married. I would recommend doing this as soon as you have your date set and have secured your Marriage Solemniser/ Marriage Celebrant. Waiting times vary and some times of the year are busier than others. Do not wait until closer to the 3 months' notice period. You may not get an appointment within 3 months of the date you want to get married.

You can telephone your local registration office. This appointment can also be booked online through the HSE website. The online facility is available in some areas. At the moment the online booking facility is not available for some Midland counties. I am based in Westmeath and officiate most of my marriages in Westmeath so I will give you their numbers. I am also available to officiate in other counties too.
In Athlone and Mullingar in County Westmeath the offices are both located in The Primary Care Centres.
Athlone: Phone: 0906 424601
Mullingar: Phone: 044 935 3706 Phone: 044 935 3707.
Simply phone and tell them you intend to get married and that you would like to make a marriage notification appointment.
For other registration offices - look on the HSE Getting Married official website pages.

A Note for Those Not Resident in Ireland
You don’t need to fly to Ireland just to give your initial notice. You can request a postal notification packet directly from the Health Service Executive (HSE) by phone or email. This allows you to complete the mandatory three month notification requirement by mail. You’ll need to return your notarised documents and the €200 notification fee well in advance of your date. Early communication with your Solemniser is vital during this stage to ensure all will align. Even with postal notification, you must meet the registrar in person at least five days before your ceremony to sign the legal declaration. This meeting is the final step before you receive your Marriage Registration Form.

Step 4. Prepare your Required Documents

Each partner will need to bring the following to your HSE Marriage Notification Appointment:

  • Valid photo ID and a photocopy of the photo page of a valid passport or national ID card (this is to confirm nationality)

  • Original and photocopy of your birth certificates

  • Proof of address (original and photocopy – dated within last 3 months)

  • Your PPS numbers

  • Details of your ceremony, including the venue address

  • Your solemniser’s name

  • The names and dates of birth of your two witnesses

If either of you are divorced, widowed, or have previously been in a civil partnership, you will need to bring additional documentation to the appointment. Likewise, if either of you are not a citizen of Ireland or an EU member state, you will need to bring further documentation. Further information on what you are required to bring can be found on the HSE website and/or checklist they provide you with.

Note: If your documents are not in English or Irish, you must provide translations.

Step 5. Attend Appointment & Receive MRF

Almost there!! Both of you will need to attend the appointment with all of your prepared documents. If all is in order and the Registrar is happy with everything you will walk out with your magical Green Folder which contains the Marriage Registration Form. Woo-hoo! Your solemniser also receives a letter then stating that they have been chosen to officiate your marriage ceremony.

REMEMBER - You must give your MRF to your solemniser before the marriage ceremony. Without it, your marriage cannot proceed legally, so guard it carefully!

Step 6: During Your Wedding Ceremony

The big day has arrived! On the day itself, your solemniser will guide you through the ceremony and ensure all legal wording and declarations are included.

Towards the end of the ceremony, you, your partner, your two witnesses, and the solemniser will sign the Marriage Registration Form. That’s the moment your marriage becomes legally binding.

Step 7: Return the Signed Form to the HSE

The signed Marriage Registration Form must be returned by you to any civil registration service. I always recommend next business day but if you are heading away and that is not possible, you do have 30 days. It is your responsibility but I always check in on my couples to double check that they have returned it.

Once it’s processed, your marriage will be officially registered, and you can order your Marriage Certificate.

So that's it in 7 Steps. When I work with my couples, I am with them every step of the way and always available to answer any questions. Best to be sure!

It doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming and I have lots of experience of guiding my couples through it all with care, ease and attention to detail, especially with the legalities and of course the celebration of your love and union.

If you want to check if I am available to be your Marriage Celebrant on your wedding date just click pink button below. I would be honoured to officiate your marriage ceremony.

Contact Veronica
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Questions or ready to plan your ceremony?

Email

Phone

veronica@marriagecelebrant.ie

+353 85 2459788

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