Part 2 with Aislinn Events: Getting Married in Ireland

Our Where in the World Wedding Wednesday Part II continues with the great Annie from Aislinn Events.  Her interview with OSB from earlier is here. Annie has been gracious enough to share up-to-date details with us about what it takes to get married in Ireland since unfortunately there is so much out-dated info out there on the web. So take it away Annie!

What better place to bring your family and friends for your wedding than a country that is full of fabulous scenery, historic and quaint venues, heritage, culture, beaches, great music, friendly people and simply full of fun things to do. – and I haven’t even mentioned the pubs!

That is what you will get in Ireland and it is easier to get married here than you may think. You can legally marry in a church, an approved venue or in the Registrar’s office.

I am always concerned when I see a website that tells couples “how to get married in Ireland” as more often than not the information is well out of date so here is the truth.

Firstly there are no residency requirements for marriages in Ireland.

So for couples living abroad who want to marry in Ireland, with prior agreement from the Registrar, your paperwork and notification may be done by post but you also must meet with the Registrar in person at some point a minimum of 5 days before your marriage. But you can also do that at the time you may like to  come over on a scouting trip.

Now read on for the requirements which hopefully I have put in plain language.

The below are needed by all couples who want to have a legal valid marriage in Ireland. Civil or religious.

You must:

• have the capacity to marry each other meaning be at least 18 years old, and not currently married. Freely consent to the marriage and observe the marriage notification process as required by Irish law as outlined below and by contacting the HSE immediately in the county you want to marry in.

All couples will be asked to produce:

• Passport as ID
• Birth Certificate
• If either party is divorced, original final decrees in respect of all previous divorces
• If widowed, death certificate of the previous spouse and the civil marriage certificate for their first marriage
• Fee of €150

Additional documentation may be required in some cases and the Registrar’s office will advise if needed.

You will be asked:

• the intended date of marriage,
• whether they require a civil or religious ceremony,
• the names and dates of birth of their witnesses, and
• details of the proposed solemniser (your officiating priest, religious leader or other legally recognized Celebrant) and venue.

You will also both have to complete a declaration of no impediment stating that they are not aware of any lawful impediment to the proposed marriage. They will give you that.

Everyone: I cannot emphasize enough that if you want to get married in Ireland, whether you live here or not, to start your paperwork as soon as possible. I don’t care if you don’t know your priest’s name or your venue yet, just get started.

Once the Registrar has approved all required details as above, he or she will issue you with a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) based on the information provided. All couples wishing to marry in Ireland (whether they require a religious or a civil ceremony) must first be issued with a Marriage Registration Form to be legal. The MRF should be given to the registrar or religious solemniser performing the marriage prior to the legal ceremony.

Bring all documents and information requested by the Registrar to their in person meeting even though the documents may have been seen through postal notification and the MRF can be issued to them immediately.

The Registrars are extremely busy and while I have always found them very helpful and hugely patient and efficient. Be prepared with as much as you can as soon as you can.

Now that is a plain word short version outline of what is needed just so you know off hand. But I’ll say it again, consult the HSE {Health Service Executive} and General Registrar’s Office for full information, links and phone numbers that you will need. Do it as soon as you know you want to get married in Ireland and it will be all down {a lush grassy green} hill from there.

If you want to get married on the beach or a clifftop or somewhere else outside, you can do that providing you have done a legal ceremony first. But as a start, the above information should really get you going!

OOh yea, and contact me to help you plan it!

-Annie

Remember brides, you can always find Annie’s contact info in our Destination Wedding Vendor Guide!  Thank you SO much Annie for providing us with such great information today!  So ladies we have our Wedding Coordinator locked in and now we’re all set to go get married in Ireland!!