The Marriages (Approved Premises) Regulations 1995

Regulation 6(1)(a)

SCHEDULE 2 CONDITIONS TO BE ATTACHED TO GRANTS OF APPROVAL

1.  The holder of the approval must ensure that there is at all times an individual with responsibility for ensuring compliance with these conditions (“the responsible person”) and that the responsible persons occupation, seniority, position of responsibility in relation to the premises, or other factors (his “qualification”), indicate that he is in a position to ensure compliance with these conditions.

2.  The responsible person or, in his absence, an appropriately qualified deputy appointed by him, shall be available on the premises for a minimum of one hour prior to each marriage ceremony and throughout each marriage ceremony.

3.  The holder must notify the authority—

(a) of his name and address immediately upon him becoming the holder of an approval under regulation 7(2), and

(b) of the name, address and qualification of the responsible person immediately upon the appointment of a new responsible person.

4.  The holder must notify the authority immediately of any change to any of the following—

(a) the layout of the premises, as shown in the plan submitted with the approved application, or in the use of the premises,

(b) the name or full postal address of the approved premises,

(c) the description of the room or rooms in which marriages are to be solemnized,

(d) the name or address of the holder of the approval, and

(e) the name, address or qualification of the responsible person.

5.  The approved premises must be made available at all reasonable times for inspection by the authority.

6.  A suitable notice stating that the premises have been approved for the solemnization of marriages in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and identifying and giving directions to the room in which a marriage ceremony is to take place must be displayed at each public entrance to the premises for one hour prior to the ceremony and throughout the ceremony.

7.  No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the room in which a marriage ceremony takes place for one hour prior to that ceremony or during that ceremony.

8.  All marriage ceremonies must take place in a room which was identified as one to be used for the solemnization of marriages on the plan submitted with the approved application.

9.  The room in which a marriage is solemnized must be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the ceremony.

10.  The arrangements for and content of each marriage ceremony must meet with the prior approval of the superintendent registrar of the district in which the approved premises are situated.

11.  Any reading, music, words or performance which forms part of a ceremony of marriage celebrated on the premises must be secular in nature; for this purpose any such material used by way of introduction to, in any interval between parts of, or by way of conclusion to the ceremony shall be treated as forming part of the ceremony.

12.  Public access to any ceremony of marriage solemnized in approved premises must be permitted without charge.

13.  Any reference to the approval of premises on any sign or notice, or on any stationery or publication, or within any advertisement may state that the premises have been approved by the authority as a venue for marriage in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Act, but shall not state or imply any recommendation of the premises or its facilities by the authority, the Registrar General or any of the officers or employees of either of them.