Area and local meetings have responsibility for:

1. holding a meeting for clearness should that be required (16.37–16.39);
2. consideration of the proposed marriage, should the registering officer refer it to the area meeting (16.30);
3. giving public notice of intention of marriage (local meeting) (16.31);
4. appointing a meeting for worship for the solemnisation of marriage (area or local meeting) (16.41–16.45);
5. giving public notice of the meeting for worship for solemnisation of marriage (clerk of local meeting) (16.47);
6. holding a meeting for worship for the solemnisation of marriage in right ordering (area or local meeting) (16.49, 12.12.f);
7. recording by minute that a marriage has taken place (area meeting) (16.63);
8. confirming that membership is held in the appropriate meeting (area meeting) (16.64–16.65).