The Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Solemnisation of religious marriage N.I.

15.—(1) A religious marriage shall not be solemnised by an officiant unless—

(a) the parties in person have produced to him before the marriage ceremony a marriage schedule in respect of the marriage issued in accordance with Article 7;

(b) both parties to the marriage are present; and

(c) two persons professing to be 16 or over are present as witnesses.

(2) An officiant shall not solemnise a religious marriage except in accordance with a form of ceremony which—

(a) is recognised by the religious body of which he is a member; and

(b) includes and is in no way inconsistent with an appropriate declaration within the meaning of Article 10(3) [F1 or (as the case may be) Article 10(3A) ].

[F2 (3) A person registered under Article 11—

(a) must not solemnise a marriage of parties who are not of the same sex unless registered under Article 11 for marriages of parties who are not of the same sex, and

(b) must not solemnise a marriage of parties who are of the same sex unless registered under Article 11 for marriages of parties who are of the same sex.

(4) A person authorised under Article 14(1)(a) must not solemnise a marriage unless the marriage is specified in the authorisation.

(5) A person authorised under Article 14(1)(b)—

(a) must not solemnise a marriage of parties who are not of the same sex unless authorised under Article 14(1)(b) to solemnise marriages of parties who are not of the same sex, and

(b) must not solemnise a marriage of parties who are of the same sex unless authorised under Article 14(1)(b) to solemnise marriages of parties who are of the same sex.]

F1 Words in art. 15(2)(b) inserted (1.9.2020) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/742), regs. 1(2), 6(6)

F2 Art. 15(3)-(5) inserted (1.9.2020) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/742), regs. 1(2), 9(2)