Celebration of Marriage

A marriage can be celebrated in Hong Kong at a marriage registry by a Registrar or at a licensed place of worship by a competent minister. The marrying parties may also appoint a civil celebrant of marriages to celebrate their marriage at any hour and any place in Hong Kong other than the office of the Registrar and a licensed place of worship.

Marriage Ceremony

Before celebration of a marriage by the Registrar or a civil celebrant, each of the marrying parties will sign a written declaration before the Registrar or the civil celebrant for the acknowledgement of the monogamy and legality of the marriage. If any party of the marriage doesn't know Chinese or English, the declaration shall be interpreted to such party in his or her own language before the Registrar or civil celebrant. The person interpreting the declaration should sign it as the interpreter.

No matter where the marrying parties celebrate their marriage, the celebration shall take place before two or more witnesses. The certificate of marriage will be signed in duplicate by the Registrar, the officiating minister or the civil celebrant, the marrying parties and two witnesses aged 18 or above. The original certificate of marriage will be delivered to the marrying parties after the marriage ceremony and the duplicate will be filed by the Registrar.

Marriages Celebrated at a Marriage Registry

•   On the wedding day, both of the marrying parties should attend 15 minutes before the time arranged with the Registrar.
•   The parties should bring their Hong Kong identity cards or valid travel documents and be accompanied by two adults aged 18 or above to act and sign as witnesses.
•   Relatives and friends may be invited to the marriage ceremony.
•   Rings may be exchanged between the parties at the ceremony.

Addresses and office hours of marriage registries

Marriages Celebrated at a Licensed Place of Worship

•   If the marrying parties celebrate their marriage at a licensed place of worship, the ceremony will be held by a competent minister according to the rites or usages of marriage observed in such church, denomination or body.
•   No marriage shall be celebrated in the absence of a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages.

List of licensed places of worship for celebration of marriages (pdf file)

Marriages Celebrated by a Civil Celebrant of Marriages

• Only practicing solicitors and notaries public who meet the statutory criteria may be appointed as civil celebrants.
• If a civil celebrant of marriages is appointed to celebrate the marriage, the ceremony can be held at any hour and any place in Hong Kong other than the office of the Registrar and a licensed place of worship. The marrying parties should inform the civil celebrant of their wedding plan as early as possible before the proposed date of marriage.
• Before engaging a civil celebrant of marriages, the marrying parties should obtain the Information Leaflet for the Marrying Parties and Code of Practice for Civil Celebrants of Marriages from the civil celebrant and note the contents.
• No marriage shall be celebrated in the absence of a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages.

List of appointed civil celebrants of marriages (pdf file)