Wedding officiant
It is possible to indicate your preference for a marriage officer. You can choose from our specially selected marriage officers. To make your choice easier, they will gladly introduce themselves to you personally.
Who will be your wedding officiant?
You can then inform us of your preference using the form: 'Choice of extraordinary registrar of civil status'. This form can be found on the page Marriages . This form can be submitted up to 3 months before the wedding.
You must have made your preference known at the latest at the marriage ceremony. Depending on the availability of the registrar, we will take your preference into account as much as possible. Approximately 6 weeks in advance, we will inform you which registrar will perform your marriage. The registrar will contact you in good time to make an appointment for a personal interview. You will discuss with him or her how the ceremony will look.
Would you like to have the speech given by a celebrity?
You pay for your own registrar. If you do not want this, you can also have only the speech provided by, for example, a family member or friend. The registrar of the municipality will then take care of the official part: the yes word and signing the deed. If you want to use this, discuss this with the municipal registrar.
Bring your own registrar?
Yes, you can! You can have a family member or friend appointed especially for your wedding. If this person is not yet a registrar at another municipality, a swearing-in ceremony must take place at the court in The Hague. You must submit the application at least 3 months before your wedding. The costs for processing the application can be found on the page Getting married . We will contact your registrar to discuss the appointment at the court in The Hague. The registrar will receive instructions from us. This way, your registrar knows exactly what is expected of him or her on your wedding day.
The form for arranging your registrar can be found on the page Getting married . Your registrar for one day will not receive compensation for the wedding. If you would like the registrar to wear a robe, you will need to provide one yourself. The robe may not bear the municipal coat of arms.
It is important that you reserve your wedding date with us. It does not matter whether the wedding is performed in the City Hall or at a designated location. A registrar from the municipality will always be present at your wedding. He or she will ensure that the certificates are present and that the ceremony proceeds correctly.
Three options for your own marriage officer
- First time registrar
- More often a registrar for 1 day
- Marriage officer in another municipality
First time registrar
It is needed:
- the application form 'Marriage officer for one day'
- a copy of your identity document
- if you do not live in Zoetermeer; an original extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) not older than 3 months
More often a registrar for 1 day
Have you been a registrar for one day in the Netherlands in the past year? Then you may not need to be sworn in again.
It is needed:
- the application form 'Marriage officer for one day'
- a copy of the swearing-in certificate
- a copy of the previous designation decision (not older than one year)
- a copy of your identity document
Marriage officer in another municipality
If you are a registrar or civil registrar in another municipality, you do not need to be sworn in.
It is needed:
- the application form 'Marriage officer for one day'
- a copy of the swearing-in certificate
- a copy of the designation decision
- a copy of your identity document
You will find the application form on the Getting Married page.
Simple wedding ceremony
As an alternative to the free wedding, a simple ceremony of maximum 10 minutes is offered on Tuesday mornings at 9.45 and 10.15 at a lower rate. This takes place in the City Hall. No personal speech is given and there is no preliminary interview with the registrar. This concerns only the formal ceremony. You can also not indicate a preference for a registrar.