The Green Folder - A Guide to Preparing for a Legal Wedding Ceremony

So, you’ve dived in at the deep end of planning a legal wedding ceremony and have discovered the Marriage Registration Form or MRF, also known more informally as the Green Folder.

The completed and issued MRF is the legal document that allows you to be legally married in the Republic of Ireland. It is issued by the HSE Civil Registration Service.

As a registered HSE Solemniser nominated by Futurfaith, I can sign this on your wedding day and legally formalise your marriage. Futurfaith Solemnisers fall under the ‘Religious’ classification when form filling.  It’s part of the magic of Futurfaith, that we are not constrained with our couples in preparing their custom ceremony. We take great pride in welcoming people of all, faiths, mixed faiths, semi-faith and/or no faith so there is space for everyone to create the ceremony they wish for.

The first step in preparing to hold a legal wedding ceremony is to give your notice of intent to marry to the HSE Civil Registration Service.

You do this by first making a notification appointment with one which is convenient to your location, a list can be found online.

*NOTE: This appointment must happen at least three months before the ceremony date, I recommend doing it as early as possible once you have your date and venue booked. It’s great to have it ticked off the to-do list!

You must both attend this appointment and bring several documents with you, click here for more information. A free is also payable on the day.

When completed and issued, the form will contain information such as ceremony date and location , names and details of the marrying couple, names and details of two witnesses and the name of the Legal Solemniser who will oversee your wedding ceremony. Don’t worry if attendance issues arise, there is facility to change a witness name on the day if someone cannot attend the ceremony.

If everything checks out correctly, you will be issued with your Marriage Registration Form, normally handed out inside the famous green folder. PUT THIS SOMEWHERE SAFE!!! You will only be issued with one copy, it cannot be scanned or photocopied and the original is the only one which can be accepted by the Solemniser on the day of the wedding.

On your big day, choose the person you consider the most trustworthy to remember to bring the MRF with them to the venue ahead of the ceremony start time. Your Legal Officiant will need to inspect the form and confirm its contents before the ceremony can begin. No form, no legal wedding. It’s that simple.

Again, following the ceremony, have someone you trust take the document to store it away safely. Most wedding venues will take it in at reception and store it in a safe for you until the next morning. I’m happy to be the one to drop it off to them for you while your party is getting started.

You have a set amount of time after your wedding day to return the MRF to the Civil Registration Service. Failure to do so could result in your marriage not being legally recognised.

The Marriage Registration Form is the pivotal part of your legally binding wedding ceremony, best get your ducks in a row as soon as you can and get booking that appointment!