💍 How to Book the Legal Part of Your Wedding at The Hidden Barn at 94, Knutsford (Approved Venue)
- Vicky
- Jan 9
- 3 min read
Getting married is a beautiful milestone — and if you’ve chosen The Hidden Barn at 94 in Knutsford for your celebrations, you’re already on to something special. Our rustic, Grade II-listed barn is licensed by Cheshire East Council as an approved wedding venue, meaning you can have your legally binding ceremony right here.
But there are some key steps you must take via the registrar to make your marriage official. Below is your complete, step-by-step guide.
📌 1. Choose Your Wedding Date & Provisional Ceremony Booking
Once you’ve decided on a date with The Hidden Barn:
Contact Cheshire East Registration Service to check registrar availability for your legal civil ceremony.
Approved premises (like The Hidden Barn) are usually booked up to 3 years in advance for registrar attendance.
You’ll make a provisional booking with the registrar team on your chosen date and time.
📞 Cheshire East Ceremonies Team: 01270 375140 (option 2)
❗ Tip: Your barn booking and your registrar booking are separate. The registrar must confirm their attendance before the legal ceremony is fully secured.
📝 2. Give Notice of Intent to Marry
This is a legal requirement in England & Wales before your marriage can take place.
What it means:
You and your partner each attend a register office appointment to declare you intend to marry and that you’re legally free to do so.
Where & When:
Notice must be given in the register office district where you live (not necessarily where you’re marrying).
It must be done at least 29 days before your ceremony.
How to book a notice appointment:
Call Cheshire East Registration Service or use the online form if eligible.
What to bring:
Identification (passport), proof of address, evidence that any previous marriage has legally ended, and the address of your ceremony venue.
📍 Notice appointments in Cheshire East are generally at Crewe Register Office.
📅 3. Confirm Your Registrar Booking
Once you’ve provisionally booked the registrar’s attendance, and given notice of intent, the registrar team will confirm whether your ceremony can go ahead at The Hidden Barn on your chosen date.
💡 Key things to remember:
The registrar booking is only for the legal ceremony — you can personalise the rest of the wedding around it.
Payment is usually taken in stages: a deposit on booking, a further part payment later, and then the final balance closer to your wedding date.
🪪 4. On the Big Day: The Legal Ceremony
At the appointed time, a registrar from Cheshire East will attend The Hidden Barn to conduct your civil marriage ceremony.
Legal minimum requirements:
You, your partner, and two witnesses attend and sign the marriage documents.
After signing, your marriage is legally recognised, and you can exchange rings and include personal touches if desired (subject to registrar approval).
📌 After the ceremony, you’ll receive your marriage certificate, the legal record that your union is recognised in the UK.
🗂 Frequently Asked Legal Tips
Can you give notice before booking a registrar?
Yes — giving notice must be done at least 29 days before, so it’s wise to do it early once your venue and date are set.
What if you want a non-traditional timeline?
Some couples hold a short legal ceremony with the registrar on a different day and then have a full celebration on their wedding date. This is allowed, though most prefer having the registrar there on the same day to avoid two legal affairs.
🧾 Final Notes
✔ The Hidden Barn at 94 is an approved venue licensed by Cheshire East for legal weddings.
✔ You must book the registrar separately to make your marriage legally valid.
✔ Giving notice and submitting the right documentation on time is crucial.
If you have any questions about the legal side of things, please reach out to Cheshire East, they are an incredible team and can talk you through the whole process.
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