Free wedding is offered as prize

A free wedding ceremony is being offered to couples in Leicestershire as part of moves to show getting married need not be too expensive.

The county council is offering a draw where the winners can pick up the free wedding or civil partnership.

The prize is part of an open day to promote the services of the six register offices across the county.

The basic ceremony costs just over £100 but the winner will also get a DVD of the ceremony if held at County Hall.

Other services

Registrar Gill Hall said it would help save money in these difficult times.

"This year I suspect a lot of people might be thinking of putting getting married off because of the media coverage of how expensive it is.

"But an office wedding is quite reasonable and to encourage people to think about that we are giving one office wedding away."

Entry forms are available from an open day to be held at County Hall's Register Office between 1100 and 1600 GMT on 18 January.

Register offices can also offer naming ceremonies, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies and British citizenship ceremonies.