BC&C are appointed Civil Celebrants

Colin Cohen and Alex Liu can now Marry You!

Under the new version of the Marriage Ordinance, Chapter 181, a marriage may now be celebrated in Hong Kong in any of the following ways:-

- By the Registrar of Marriages or a Deputy Registrar of Marriages (Registrar) at a Marriage Registry;

- By a competent minister of a licensed place of public worship; or
 
- By a Civil Celebrant of Marriages (Civil Celebrant) at any place in Hong Kong, other than a Marriage Registry or a licensed place of public worship.
 
There are no residential requirements for the marrying parties and they may be of any nationality.  However, each party to a marriage must be over the age of 16.
 
On 21st April 2006, the Registrar of Marriages has appointed the 1st batch of Civil Celebrants in Hong Kong, among those are our senior partner, Mr. Colin COHEN and our Mr. Alex LIU.
 
With the new scheme, the marrying parties may now have the flexibility in choosing the time and venue of marriage.  It also allows them to be creative in making their own wedding ceremony with personal style.

There are 2 basic steps involved in respect of the formalities.  The 1st step is the giving of a Notice of Intended Marriage (Notice) by one of the parties in the prescribed form.  The Notice shall be given within the period of 3 months and preferably not less than 1 month preceding the proposed date of marriage.  The 2nd step is the celebration of marriage on the day of wedding.

Our services as Civil Celebrant cover both steps, unless the parties choose to file the Notice with the Registrar through themselves.  Our charges for such services are set at the standard fees which are subject to any particular circumstances.  In addition, there is a prescribed fee payable to the Registrar for filing and exhibition of the Notice. For details, please contact us.

We are pleased to have commenced providing our services as Civil Celebrant in early May 2006. It will indeed be our honour and privilege to serve more couples and be part of such joyful and memorable events of them.