Wedding officiant
It is possible to indicate your preference for a wedding officiant. You can choose from our specially selected wedding officiants. To make your choice easier, they are happy to introduce themselves to you personally.
Who will be your wedding officiant?
You can then tell us your preference using the form: 'Choice of extraordinary registrar'. You can find this form on the Wedding page. This form can be submitted no later than 3 months before the wedding.
Your preference must be made known no later than the time of the civil marriage. Depending on the availability of the wedding officiant, we will take your preference into account as much as possible. Approximately 6 weeks in advance we will inform you which wedding officiant will officiate your wedding. The wedding officiant will contact you in time to make an appointment for a personal interview. You will discuss the ceremony with him or her.
Bring your own wedding officiant?
You can! You can have a family member or friend appointed especially for your wedding. If this person is not already a wedding officiant at another municipality, a swearing-in must take place at the District Court of 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 Wedding page. We will contact your wedding officiant to discuss the appointment at the District Court of The Hague. The wedding officiant will receive instructions from us. This way, your wedding officiant knows exactly what is expected of him or her on your wedding day.
The form for arranging your wedding officiant can be found on the Wedding page. Your one-day wedding officiant will not receive a fee for the wedding. If you would like the wedding officiant to wear a gown you will provide this yourself. The toga may not bear the municipal coat of arms.
It is important that you set your wedding date with us. It does not matter whether the marriage is performed at City Hall or at a designated location. A wedding officiant 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 properly.
Three options own wedding officiant
- First-time wedding officiant
- More often wedding officiant for 1 day
- Wedding officiant in another municipality
First-time wedding officiant
It requires:
- 'Wedding officiant for one day' application form.
- a copy of proof of identity
- If you do not live in Zoetermeer; an original extract from the Register of Persons (BRP) not older than 3 months.
More often wedding officiant for 1 day
Have you been a wedding officiant for one day in the Netherlands before in the past year? If so, you may not need to be sworn in again.
It requires:
- 'Wedding officiant for one day' application form.
- a copy of the affidavit
- a copy of the previous designation decision (not older than one year)
- a copy of proof of identity
Wedding officiant in another municipality
If you are a wedding officiant or registrar in another municipality, you do not need to be sworn in.
It requires:
- 'Wedding officiant for one day' application form.
- a copy of the affidavit
- a copy of the designation decision
- a copy of proof of identity
You can find the application form on the Wedding page.
Simple wedding ceremony
As an alternative to getting married free of charge, a simple ceremony of up to 10 minutes is offered on Tuesday mornings at 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. at a reduced rate. This takes place in the City Hall. There will be no personal speech and no preliminary interview with the registrar. It is only a formal ceremony. It is not possible to indicate a preference for a wedding officiant.