Different types of marriage ceremony in Ireland

In Ireland, there are 3 different ways to legally marry. A marriage may be celebrated in a:

• Civil ceremony
• Religious ceremony or
• Secular ceremony

Each is equally valid and binding under Irish law.

For a marriage to be legal, the ceremony must be performed by a registered solemniser (see 'Registered solemnisers' below).

To have a legally valid marriage in Ireland, you both must:

• Have the capacity to marry
• Freely consent to the marriage, and
• Meet the notification requirements for marriage.

Once you have fulfilled these conditions, you should consider how you want to marry.

Civil ceremony

Civil ceremonies are legally binding secular marriage ceremonies performed by a registrar. The registrar works for the State.

Civil ceremonies can take place in a registry office, or registrars can travel to perform civil ceremonies in an approved room or venue. In general, registrars only perform ceremonies where they are based.

Civil ceremonies can only take place within the office working hours of the registrar.

There can be no mention of anything religious or spiritual in your ceremony. If you are planning to get married by civil ceremony, you should contact the civil registration service in the district where you intend to marry for advice on how to proceed. There is no requirement to live in the district where you want to get married.

Further information is also available in our page describing civil marriage ceremonies.

Religious ceremony

Religious ceremonies are performed by registered religious solemnisers of established religions. They typically take place in their places of worship and the ceremony is performed according to the beliefs and philosophies of the particular body or church.

If you are getting married by religious ceremony, you should contact the authorities of the religious body concerned for guidance on how to proceed.

Secular ceremony

Secular ceremonies are legally recognised in Ireland if they are carried out by a registered secular solemniser. Secular ceremonies are performed by bodies that have a viewpoint that does not include anything religious or spiritual. Humanist ceremonies are the most common type of secular ceremony in Ireland.

If you wish to get married by secular ceremony you should contact the authorities of the secular body concerned for advice on how to proceed.

In Ireland, someone who is already married cannot get married again (even if it is to the same person). This means that you cannot renew your wedding vows in a civil ceremony in Ireland.

However, there is a long tradition of "church blessings" in Ireland. This is where Irish people who have married in civil ceremonies abroad, marry in a religious ceremony the next time they are home. Sometimes, people living in Ireland have their marriage blessed in a religious ceremony to commemorate a special anniversary or event. If you would like to have your marriage blessed, you should get in touch with your local member of the clergy.

Whether you decide on a religious, secular or civil ceremony you will require a Marriage Registration Form (MRF). You can get your MRF by giving 3 months’ notice of intention to marry to the registrar at a Civil Registration Service. You should contact your local civil registration service to make an appointment with the registrar. You can also use the online booking system.

A solemniser is the term given to a person licensed by the State to conduct weddings. Only a registered solemniser can perform a legally binding wedding ceremony.

If a member of a religious or secular body wants to be registered as a solemniser, they must be nominated by the appropriate body in Ireland. In general, this will be the head office of the religious or secular body. Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for making sure the details held in the Register of Solemnisers is accurately recorded by the General Registers Office. For example, in the case of a Roman Catholic priest, it will be the diocesan office in the diocese in which the marriage is to take place.

Temporary registrations of solemnisers of religious and secular marriage ceremonies are possible for people who only want to solemnise a specific marriage or to solemnise marriages for a specific period of time.

Anyone solemnising a civil, secular or religious marriage must be on the Register of Solemnisers of Marriage. The civil/religious/secular categories are set out in the register.

Check the Register of Solemnisers maintained by the General Register Office to find a registered solemniser who can perform a legally binding wedding ceremony.

If you are planning a civil ceremony in a Registry Office or other approved place, you should contact the Registrar of Civil Marriages for the district where you intend to marry for advice on how to proceed.

If you plan to get married by religious or secular ceremony, you should contact the religious or secular body concerned for guidance on how to proceed.

The Department of Social Protection has more information on the rules and requirements for getting married in Ireland.