Harlow Registration Office
Welcome to Harlow Harlow, now a neighbourhood known as Old Harlow, and the villages of Great Parndon, Latton, Tye Green, Potter Street, Churchgate Street, Little Parndon, and Netteswell. The town is divided into neighbourhoods, each self-supporting with their own shopping precincts, community facilities and pub. Gibberd invited many of the country’s leading post-war architects to design buildings in the town. Harlow has one of the most extensive cycle track networks in the country, connecting all areas of the town to the town centre and industrial areas. The cycle network is composed mostly of Harlow is probably best known as a New Town situated on the very western edge of Essex. The town was built after World War II to ease overcrowding in London and the surrounding areas due to the mass devastation caused by the bombing during the Blitz. Harlow was a ‘Phase I’ new town along with other new towns such as Basildon, Stevenage, and Hemel Hempstead. New Towns were designated following the New Towns Act of 1946, with the master plan for Harlow drawn up in 1947 by Sir Frederick Gibberd The development incorporated the market town of
the original old town roads. A major feature of Harlow New Town is its green wedges, with over a third of the town being parkland or open space. Harlow Town Park is a 71.6-hectare park and is a popular, well-used facility in the centre of the community. The park has been used for recreation and enjoyment for over 50 years by the people of Harlow and the surrounding areas. Harlow Town Park is one of the largest urban parks in Britain, and occupies a large chunk of the central town. It is
situated between the town centre and the train station, both of which are within walking distance of the park, which is a natural thoroughfare from the station to the town centre. There are only 12 parks with significant post-war element on the English Heritage ‘Register of Parks’. With these Harlow is seen as one of the first examples of a civic scheme to marry the modern science of town and country planning. Despite being a New Town, Harlow’s origins go back a long way. The first written record of Harlow is in the Domesday Book of 186, commissioned by William the Conqueror to assess the extent of land and resources in England at the time. Harlow was then a collection of 4 or 5 small villages. It’s history goes back about 2000 years with evidence of a small Romano-British Temple within the Temple Fields area of the current town. Harlow is served by two railway stations, Harlow Town and the much smaller Harlow Mill, which connect Harlow to the cities of London and Cambridge. Liverpool Street in London is about half an hour away. London’s third airport at Stansted is also easily accessible by train. The town is situated just south of Junction 7 of the M11 giving easy access to London and Cambridge as well as Stansted Airport which is about 12 miles away.
One of the lesser known facts about Harlow is that it is a ‘Sculpture Town’. Sited throughout the town is a collection of public sculptures of national significance. In the main squares, in numerous public buildings and open spaces, sculptures by artists, both famous and lesser known are to be found. .The majority of Harlow’s collection is owned by Harlow Art Trust, which has commissioned works by up-andcoming sculptors and assists them by providing a permanent public exhibition of their works since 1953 and continues to this day. Sir Frederick Gibberd and Patricia, Lady Gibberd were founder members of the Art Trust and both were instrumental in creating Harlow Sculpture Town. Their private collection of sculptures can be found at the Gibberd Garden on the outskirts of the town. Since becoming a new town, Harlow has undergone several stages of expansion. One of the more recent areas to be redeveloped includes the Water Gardens, with the new civic centre being built and the town’s famous Water Gardens being redeveloped, with a landscape listed by English Heritage. The registration office in Harlow is situated on the very edge of the Watergardens. It is a purpose built, architect designed building opened in 1994. The design mimics a ship’s hull,
with long curved walls and ‘porthole’ windows. The central glass atrium offers a bright and cheerful area for guests to assemble for ceremonies. Originally there was a tree planted in the atrium, but this has now been removed, although there are still indoor planting areas. Our recently decorated, air conditioned ceremony room will seat just over 40 people, if you don’t mind some guests standing we have a maximum capacity of 50. The Watergardens area, together with the sculptures situated therein offers various photo opportunities nearby.
A Register Office Wedding It may surprise you to learn that nearly 1800 couples choose to have a Registration Office wedding in Essex each year. With ceremony rooms strategically placed around the County you are never far away from the location that could be just right for your special day. Ceremony rooms are located in Braintree, Brentwood, Benfleet, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping, Harlow and Saffron Walden.
Marriage in Approved Premises Since 1995 it has been possible for civil
currently allowed to take place outdoors, in
marriages to take place regularly in hotels,
marquees or other temporary or moveable
stately homes, civic halls and similar premises.
structures. The secular nature of civil marriage
The choice of venues in Essex is ever increasing precludes the use of any building with a recent or with over 150 such places licensed. There are
continuing religious connection. An increasingly
many different types of venues now licensed
popular ceremony location is the purpose built
offering the opportunity for a truly memorable
gazebo, which enables the wedding party to
ceremony in unique surroundings.
be accommodated within the confines of a permanent structure in the outdoors whilst the
Details of the venues in each District appear elsewhere in this brochure. Marriages are not
guests sit in the open air during the ceremony.
To arrange a wedding in an Approved Premise,
booked your date and time; and then taken your
you must first contact the venue to make
拢50 non路refundable deposit, your booking will
provisional arrangements. Once you have made
be confirmed with us. You can then confirm the
a provisional booking with the venue, you must
booking with your venue.
then contact the Registration Office for the District where the venue is located to ensure
There is an additional fee for getting married in
Registration Officers can attend your ceremony
an Approved Premise. Registrar attendance fee
on the date and at the time of your choice.
charges applicable with effect from 1st April 2015
Provisional bookings are being taken up to two
can be found towards the end of the guide.
years in advance of the ceremony. On making a provisional booking with your chosen venue, they will advise you which registration office to contact, to book your registrars. Once the registration office has
Giving Notice of Marriage Before you can marry in a register office,
deputy in the area in which they reside. In Essex
approved premise, church or chapel in England
this can be any office (except Southend and
and Wales (other than a Church of England
Thurrock). Both parties must have resided in a
where you may have banns called), you must
district in England or Wales for at least 7 whole
give a notice of your intention to marry.
days immediately prior to giving a Notice of Marriage.
Each person wanting to marry has to give their own notice of intention to marry to the
Since the 2nd March 2015 the legal notice
Superintendent Registrar or nominated
waiting period changed to at least 28 days
before the ceremony. A notice period of 70 days
of the date of your wedding. A fee of ÂŁ35.00 is
may be needed if either of the parties is not an
currently charged for each notice given.
EEA national. Your local registration office will be pleased to advise you further. During the waiting
If either you or your partner is subject to
period your notice will go on public display at our
immigration control then each of you need
Register Office in Brentwood and at the end of
to give Notice of Marriage at a designated
the waiting period your authorities for marriage
registration office. For more information contact
will be issued.
the Chelmsford Registration Office.
You will still be able to marry in any register office or approved premise in England or Wales irrespective of where you live, and your notice can still be taken up to one year in advance
Documents you nee When giving a notice of marriage, each party will need to produce proof of identity (name, age, marital status and nationality), together with evidence of place of residence. Verifying documents include full birth certificate, current passports, driving licences, change of name statements and divorce documents. Our staff will be happy to advise further. If either of you has been married before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to show proof of your divorce. If either of you was divorced in England or Wales, we will need to see a court-stamped copy of the decree absolute (the final divorce paper).
ed to show us If the divorce took place in a foreign country, we
married each other in a foreign country you
will need to see the original document issued
only need to get married here if you think that
by that country and an English translation, if
marriage was not legal. If you decide to get
the document is in a foreign language. If no
married here we will need to see any documents
documents were issued in the foreign country,
issued by that country when you give us notice
we will tell you what we can accept as proof of
of your marriage. If either of you is under 18,
the divorce.
we will need to see proof that your parents or guardian agree to the marriage. If your parents
If either of you is a widow or widower we will
are divorced we may also need to see the court
need to see a certified copy of your former
order that gives custody to one of them. The
partner’s death certificate from the registration
Registration Staff will give you advice on this
authority of the country where your former
matter.
partner died. Also, the widow needs to show a copy of the marriage certificate. If you have
On the Day
Flowers All Registration Office ceremony rooms are tastefully decorated with appropriate floral displays. However, you may wish to make
Arrival
your own floral arrangements, in which case,
It is very important for you and your guests to
please discuss your requirements with the
arrive at least 10 minutes earlier than the time
Superintendent Registrar of the District
of your ceremony. This will allow you to be
concerned.
interviewed before the ceremony and for your guests to be seated. You will be greeted by
Music
the Registrar who will see the bride and groom
All the Registration Offices have music
privately to check details and take fees for the
systems and CD players with a selection of
marriage ceremony and certificate.
suitable music. Should you have a favourite
or meaningful piece of music you wish to be
Recording the Event
played at your ceremony, discuss it with the
A wedding album is a very special memento
Superintendent Registrar well before the day
we are happy to allow photography in the
who will be happy to advise you.
marriage room at specified times. A single video recording is also permitted, but please inform the
Witnesses The law requires that you be accompanied by at least two credible witnesses at your wedding. They may be relatives, friends or colleagues who must be able to speak and understand English.
Superintendent Registrar beforehand.
The Ceremony The ceremony will begin with an introduction by the Superintendent Registrar. The bride and groom will then be asked, in turn, to repeat the following solemn declarations: ‘‘ I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I ___________ may not be joined in matrimony to ___________.’’ or ‘‘ I declare that I know of no legal reason why I ___________ may not be joined in marriage to ___________’’. By replying ‘‘I am’’ to the question ‘‘Are you ___________free lawfully to marry ___________?’’
Each of the parties must also say to the other
The Superintendent Registrar will be happy to
(choosing one of the statements given below):
discuss the ceremony options available to you.
‘‘ I call upon these persons here present to witness that I ___________ do take thee
The Superintendent Registrar will state that the
___________ to be may lawful wedded wife (or
parties have made the declarations required by
husband).’’
law and are now husband and wife.
or ‘‘ I ___________ take you ___________ to be
The formal signing of the register will take place
my wedded wife (or husband).’’
concluding the civil ceremony.
or ‘‘ I ___________ take thee ___________ to be my wedded wife (or husband).’’ The ceremony may be enhanced by making additional vows and commitments to each other beyond the ones legally required.
Register Office
Civil Partnerships
You may wish to choose to form a civil partnership in the area where you and your partner live, but you don’t have to. The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enabled same·sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. However. since the introduction of
p
the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
You will also be required to show evidence that
this allows same路sex couples the choice of
you have been resident in a district in England
which ceremony they want to go through. As
or Wales for at least 7 whole days, immediately
with a marriage ceremony we take a provisional
prior to giving a notice of marriage. Notice can
booking and a 拢50 non路refundable deposit up
be given no earlier than a year before the civil
to two years in advance of your chosen date
partnership. Since the 2nd March 2015 the legal
at either a Registration Office or Approved
notice waiting period changed to at least 28 days
Premise. Registrations may or may not include a
before the ceremony. A notice period of 70 days
ceremony.
may be needed if either of the parties is not an EEA national. Your local registration office will be
You must give legal notice of your intention to
pleased to advise you further.
form a Civil Partnership.\
Giving notice of a Civil Partnership.
During the waiting period your notice will go on public display at our Register Office in Brentwood but no addresses will be displayed. At the end of the waiting period your authorities
Each person wanting to form a civil partnership
for civil partnership will be issued.
must give their own notice in the district in which they reside. If you live in Essex, you can
If either yourself, or your partner are subject to
give your notice at any registration office in
immigration control, you will both be required to
the county. Please be aware that this does not
give Notice of civil partnership at a designated
include residents of Southend and Thurrock who
Registration Office. For more information,
must give their notices in the relevant district.
contact the Chelmsford Registration Office.
What documents do I need to bring?
When giving notice to form a civil partnership, each party will need to produce evidence of identification. What you will need to produce depends very much on your personal circumstances, but could include a valid passport, full birth certificate, driving licence, change of name document and divorce paper’s, these confirm name, age, nationality and marital status, as well as proof of address. If you have been married or been through a civil partnership before; you will need to produce either a court stamped decree absolute or your late spouse or civil partners death certificate. If the divorce was abroad, we will also need to see a translation of the document if it is not in English.
If either of you is under 18 you will also need parental consent.
Civil Partnership Conversions. It is now possible, if you so wish, to convert an existing civil partnership into a marriage. Since the 10th December 2014, couples who registered their civil partnership in England or Wales can convert their civil partnership to a marriage. This includes all civil partnerships registered according to the law of England and Wales (including those registered in a consul or armed forces base overseas). The conversion itself is a simple legal process but can include a celebratory ceremony if you choose. Your conversion can take place at our Register Office in Brentwood or at any of our registration offices or approved marriage venues. A ceremony may also be held at a church if that building has been registered for
same sex marriages. The service is free of charge for all those who entered into a civil partnership in England or Wales before 29th March 2014 and wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage before 10th December 2015. There is a charge of ÂŁ4 for each certificate ordered before or on the day of conversion. Separate fees apply if you chose to have a celebratory ceremony. Documents Both parties will need to attend for the conversion. You will need to bring your original civil partnership certificate together with some current ID and proof of your address. You do not need to bring any witnesses and there is no waiting period. You will however need to book an appointment.
Commitment Ceremonies. There are many reasons why couples choose this type of ceremony, it is a routine celebration open to all couples who wish to make a public declaration of their love and commitment to each other in the presence of their family and friends. Unlike a marriage, this ceremony has no legal status but it is intended to be deep personal significance, Because of this, there are no restrictions as to residential requirements. Just with any of our other ceremonies, you can make promises and wishes to each other, exchange rings and include poems and readings inviting your guests to participate in your ceremony. Finally at the end of the ceremony be presented with a certificate to mark the occasion. Your ceremony can take place at any of our offices or approved venues, or any other venue of your choice by prior arrangement or if you prefer, the ceremony can be held in private without any guests present. Either way this is a moving and intimate ceremony that is unique and meaningful.
Changing names. After registering a Civil Partnership, one partner might want to change their surname to that of their partner. Alternatively, a couple may choose to hyphenate their surnames. Government departments and agencies such as the Passport Agency and the DVLA will accept Civil Partnership certificates in the same way that they accept marriage certificates as evidence for changing surnames. Private companies such as banks or insurance companies may require a different standard of proof. It is up to the individuals to contact organisations which hold personal data on them, if they wish to change their surname.
How much does a ceremony cost? For information on ceremony fees refer to next page.
Table Of Fees For Statutory Services (effective from 1st April 2015)
Marriage and Civil Partnership Notice Fees
Attendance Fees
(a) Fee for entering a notice of marriage (a) Fee payable to a Superintendent £35.00 For marriage, each party must give Registrar before whom a civil marriage is to notice in their district of residence. be solemnised in approved premises. (For his/her attendance and that of a (b) Fee for entering a notice to register Registrar of Marriages) £35.00 a civil partnership For civil partnership, each party must give notice in their registration authority area A fee of £35.00 is payable for each notice The above mentioned notice fee rates are subject to review.
(b) Fee payable to a civil partnership registrar to attend a partnership formation in approved premises (1) Monday to Friday £380.00 (2) Saturday £415.00 (3) Sunday, Bank or Public Holiday £470.00
Certificates For a certified copy of the entry in the marriage or ÂŁ4.00 partnership register issued at the time of registration Certificates issued after registration before archiving ÂŁ7.00 Certificates issued from archived records ÂŁ10.00
The above mentioned certificate fee rates are subject to review.
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In our fleet of Mercedes cars we have the E Class with its elegant and stylish looks and spacious, luxurious interior. We also have the S Class which is of another level of upper class travel with extra leg room and a more sumptuous feel to the interior. Both are ideal for the Bride and Bridesmaids or if your opting for something more vintage for the bride then these cars will be ideal for Mother of the Bride or grooms party and will compliment her choice of transport well.
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Address: 1 Gatehouse Cottages | Whitehouse Road | Stebbing | Essex | CM6 3BZ
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We are very grateful to the businesses whose advertisements appear in this publication. As a mark of our gratitude we would like to draw the attention of the readers to their details and announcements. We are required to make it clear however that neither Excellmedia nor the distributor can accept responsibility for any services or workmanship that they may undertake.
Telephone: 08450 707040
www.excell-media.co.uk
admin@excell_media.co.uk
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