Cannot find a marriage registered in Sept 2003

I have been researching my family history for about a year and a half now. I
am quite competent with GRO and parish registers etc. I do have the odd
tough line to follow like most people but my recent 'stumbling block' is
something that should have been quite simple.
My sister married in September 2003 in Marlborough, Wiltshire (Dev and Marl
district). Her surname is Cook and his is James. I have been using
1837online and ancestry but I cannot find the registration of their marriage
with the GRO. I have tried just looking for people married with the surname
James only, Cook only and other spellings and districts.
Any suggestions why this would be? I was there and gave her away, so I know

C Rihan...

Or was it only a dream?

Seriously though, it's not unknown for people who know the exact
date of an event to forget to check in the next registration quarter after
the quarter in which the event occurred.

It's possible that one or both names may have been missed from the
index by mistake.
Did you find either of the names?
The other thing I can think of that may have happened is that the
surname JAMES may have been indexed as his first name (eg Fred
or whatever) by mistake, and that his first name (eg Fred) was
put in the index as the surname.
If that's the case, your sister's name may be in the index listed
with the groom's surname as 'Fred' instead as James.

Are they listed in the local registry?

Best wishes
C.Rihan

Trevor Cook...

Thanks for all the comments

I have been using both 1837 and ancestry without luck. I have tried looking
for individuals called Cook that married in the 'Dev and Marl' district from
Jan 2003 to Dec 2004. I have also looked for James over the same period. I
have also tried looking for marriages of couples Cook and James in all
districts. I have also tried Crook, Cok and even Cock. Cock was entered as
the partners name on my mothers GRO marriage entry!

How do I check the local registry as the event was only in 2003?

Charani...

I checked on 1837online and familyrelatives with no luck either. I
tried the surname as COOKE as well but with no joy.

Write or phone the register office in the town where your sister
married. There should be a record there. If there isn't maybe you
did dream it all ;))

it happened.

Hugh Watkins...

go to the local registry office who have the original registers

or the church

Hugh W

Fenny...

My only advice is to keep looking. It took me a couple of years to find
my brother's marriage entry. Like you, I was there and was sure of the
event.