For couples getting married in Ireland, thinking about your green folder appointment and registering intent to marry is enough to get your palms sweaty!
Intent to marry
You can make your appointment at any time, but the appointment must be at least 3 months before the date you intend to marry. For example, if you wish to get married on 1st September 2024, you can make your appointment now to have the meeting in the registry office to do your intent to marry at any time between now and 1st June 2024. This leaves three months between the meeting and the wedding date. You can apply now, even if your wedding is a year away!
Fees
Requirements
HSE requirements for Intent to Marry:
- Valid photo ID
- Original (full) birth certificate and photocopy
- Proof of address – original utility bill etc and photocopy of the same (must be dated within the last 3 months)
- PPS number
- Nature of ceremony (see below)
- Name of registered solemniser
- Name and address of proposed ceremony venue
- Name and date of birth of both witnesses
- Prescribed notification fee of €200
- Additional documentation may also be required where one or both of the parties to the marriage is/are not a citizen of Ireland, UK or an EU member state
- Additional documentation if one or both parties are divorced
Types of ceremonies
There are three official classifications for legal marriage ceremonies: Civil, Religious or Secular.
Civil Ceremonies – these can be facilitated by an HSE registrar only.
Religious – these are conducted by solemnisers. This could be a church-based ceremony, multifaith, spiritual, pagan, jewish, islam, hindu, and so on.
Secular – there are two groups who can facilitate these in Ireland.
A Celebrant or Officiant – someone who officiates the ceremony. These would be classified as ‘non legal’ or ‘independent’ which means they cannot conduct a legal marriage ceremony.
Click here to find out more about legal ceremonies, celebrants and solemnisers
