Well the day is getting nearer and I feel I have still not covered everything. One thing we cannot do until Mica is here is give notice of the wedding and go to the main register office in Manchester. What actually is the procress and what happens when you do this? All help appreciated.
from memory--you can apply after 8 days residence in the UK. you have to apply to your designated register office, wherever that may be. in our case we were interviewed separately--allow an hour for this.
You have to wait for 8 days to book yourself an appointment. You have to call your local registry office to book. They will get your bank account details to get payment (reservation). Then you will receive confirmation (email and mail). You need to take with you both of your passports, passport photos, proof of address and a letter from a friend or neighbor which will confirm that she's residing with you and the date of her arrival in UK and also the confirmation email you will receive. The appointment (to give notice of marriage) will take an hour. You must know all the basic/important details of each other. They will ask you your planned wedding date, if civil or religious ceremony, where you will have the wedding. After 28 days (notice of marriage), if you have not received any letter or call then you are free to proceed with your wedding. You have to pay a fee there again.
the couple have to apply to their DESIGNATED register office--which may well NOT be their local or nearest one. they need to go online to search for it
Got your point. They have to call first the Registry Office where they wanna marry. In our case, they (Bishop Auckland Registry Office in Durham) informed us where to go to give our Notice of Marriage (Newcastle).