Registrars fees

This page offers an overview of the registration fees:

• Submission of marriage and civil partnership notices
• Ceremonies
• Private citizenship ceremonies
• Extracts - certificate copies
• Family history searches

Submission of marriage and civil partnership notices

In Scotland every couple must formally submit notice to marry or civilly partner a minimum of 29 days prior to their intended ceremony date.

This requirement applies to all denominations of marriage and civil partnership ceremony including religious, belief-body (for example humanist) and civil (registrar-led) ceremonies.

A statutory fee of £100 (plus £0.90 postage) must be paid when marriage or civil partnership notices are submitted.

This £100.90 charge is broken down as follows:

• Administration of two marriage or civil partnership notices - £90 (£45 per notice)
• Production of a marriage or civil partnership certificate - £10
• Postage of extracts (certificates) upon completion of registration - £0.90

Find out more about marriage and civil partnership notices.

Ceremonies

Aberdeenshire registrars offer a wide range of ceremonies including civil marriage, civil partnership, renewal of marriage vows and baby naming ceremonies.

Our ceremonies are designed to meet the wishes of each couple. From intimate to extravagant, from the very traditional to the quite alternative we take pride in ensuring every occasion is truly special.

You can find more information about these in our ceremonies brochure (PDF 1.03MB).

The fees applied to the provision of ceremonies vary depending on date, size and location of ceremony.

Aberdeenshire registrars do not charge any additional fees for the customisation of ceremonies. We are happy to incorporate any ceremony enhancements you may desire (for example readings, hand-fasting, partaking of the quaich) at no additional cost.

Please note the following ceremony fees do not include the statutory fee for the submission of marriage notice (see section above).

External venues and locations

Travel costs are charged at 53.65 pence per mile for the return journey between the nearest Registrar's office to the venue.

An additional fee may be chargeable for 'wilderness weddings' where additional registrar time is required to walk to and from remote or hard to reach locations.

Please discuss this with your registrar when booking.

Aberdeenshire Council Chambers

You can also book our Council Chambers for your ceremony. The size of these vary and are available across Aberdeenshire so please contact the Registrars office to discuss the capacity of these venues. 

Aberdeenshire Ceremony Room - large ceremony

A large ceremony refers to a party of over nine but a maximum of twenty attendees, including the registrar.

Please note that room sizes will vary. Bookings are subject to confirmation that wedding party can be safely accommodated.

Aberdeenshire Ceremony Room - small ceremony

A small ceremony refers to a maximum of nine attendees, including the registrar. 

Ceremony rehearsals 

Please note: travel costs are charged at 53.65 pence per mile for the return journey between the nearest Registrar's office to the venue.

Private citizenship ceremonies

Private in-person citizenship ceremonies may be booked on request. Attendance to private ceremonies will be limited to a registrar, citizenship applicant and invited members of the applicant’s immediate household.

These are available from Monday to Friday during office hours and cost £82.

Extracts - certificate copies

Extracts (copies of birth, civil partnership, death and marriage certificates) fees are as follows:

• If purchased within 30 days of the registration appointments - £10 per extract
• If purchased over 30 days from the date of registration - £15 for the first extract, £10 for each additional copy

There is also a postage fee if you would like the extracts sent to you.

You can request extracts through an online form.

Family history searches

There is a £15 fee for an hour-long family history appointment. This can be provided in-person or online via a Microsoft Teams meeting.

Alternatively, a registrar can search the archives on your behalf at the same hourly rate. Please email registrars@aberdeenshire.gov.uk for more information.