Married abroad but want a ceremony here

[chezza100]

Hi All

I would like some advice if anybody can help.

My husband has recently won his appeal for a settlement visa and we are waiting for this to be processed.

Lots of my family & friends were unable to attend our wedding in Pakistan and I would like us to have another ceremony here.

With my husband being Muslim he is not comfortable with having a church ceremony so does anybody now if its possible for us to have a ceremony in a register office and do we require a COA?

Thanks
Chezza

[mrlookforward]

If he is here on a settlement visa, you wont need coa.

[chezza100]

Sorry I meant Spouse Visa not Settlement

Do we need a COA as he has a Spouse Visa?

I have been told its easier in a church as no COA is required at all.

Thanks

[Wanderer]

Spouse visa is a settlement visa, don't worry!

[chezza100]

Thanks so much - I can start planning.

Just waiting on Islamabad now.........

[PaperPusher]

You cannot get married in a register office because you are already married.

[chezza100]

Oh No - really?

I was told we could because we would be marrying each other again. Don't lots of couples get married abroad & then again here (I don't mean church blessing)??

[PaperPusher]

Not two legally recognised ceremonies.

See this from the Birmingham register office website:

If you have already married each other in a foreign country, you need only get married again here if there is a doubt that your marriage was legal. We will need to see the marriage documents issued by that country when you give notice of your marriage.

If you weren't in a marriage recognised in the UK I doubt he would be able to come to the UK as your husband.

If you want more advice talk to you local register office, they are usually incredibly helpful.

None of this stops you having a made up ceremony of some sort, you could let your imagination run wild, write your own vows and say them in a special setting. This would just not be a legal marriage.

[batleykhan]

There is nothing to stop OP and her spouse performing the nikkah ceremony in a mosque etc and having a party and dine with her friends and family ( just like a typical Asian wedding.... its just you don't register the marriage in the registry office.

Performing niikah second time is like western people renewing their vows.There is no harm in doing this.

[chezza100]

Thanks all for your advice.

Am I right in saying that our only options are a Mosque or Church ceremony that we can't register?

Also can somebody advise would we get a British certificate?

[Wanderer]

Thanks all for your advice.

Am I right in saying that our only options are a Mosque or Church ceremony that we can't register?

Also can somebody advise would we get a British certificate?

GRO, http://www.gro.gov.uk or something similar!

[batleykhan]

Why are you insistent on marrying in a registry office. Is there a reason why you are pushing for this and British marriage certificate?

If you want a wedding where you can invite friends and family that were not present in Pakistan, then just do what I mentioned in my above post.

[t_kaay]

i read somewhere in the press the other month that people marrying in places such as Pakistan, etc, with nikah, should really get the marriage registered here in the UK as well. This provides the wifehusband added benefits and security should the other half pass away....i ill try and find a link....maybe this is what the OP is referring to?

just found the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8493660.stm

[chezza100]

Apologies for asking so many questions - I'm just trying to find out what options are available.

My mother was too sick to travel to Pakistan for our wedding and we always planned a British Wedding in addition to the Pakistan ceremony.

[Casa]

As you've been advised..this would have to be a Wedding Blessing...church, or a nikkah ceremony if in a mosque... a second marriage isn't possible. Would it be a problem for you to have the Muslim ceremony as Batleykhan has suggested in the Mosque?

[batleykhan]

i read somewhere in the press the other month that people marrying in places such as Pakistan, etc, with nikah, should really get the marriage registered here in the UK as well. This provides the wifehusband added benefits and security should the other half pass away....i ill try and find a link....maybe this is what the OP is referring to?

just found the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8493660.stm

I think this refers to islamic nikah taking palce in a mosque here in the UK taht is not regsitered to carry out such a task. Islamic marriages taking palce in UK are not legally recognised as valid marriages untill such time that marriage is regsitered in a Registry Office.

In OP circumstance her islamic marriage is recognised as it too palce in an islamic country, therefore she is not allowed to get married in any other country