Do you have to exchange rings at a registry office?

My partner and I are having a registry office service because our pagan handfasting isn't legally recognised as a marraige and we want our (possible) kids to be secure should anything happen to us so the legal wedding is one out of practicality rather than desire.

Because of this we don't want to exchange rings because we'll be doing that on our handfasting but we don't know whether we'll be allowed to get away with not exchanging them! Can anyone enlighten me on this? We'd rather exchange rings at the handfasting and exchange something else (like a flower or a car park token or something that doesn't mean that much to us as the wedding bands would) but will that be allowed?

Sarah a handfasting is a Pagan Wedding. It's usually conducted outside in a sacred space like a cast circle and you can either chose to be married for a year and a day or for the rest of your lifetime (both this one and the next if you chose and that's your belief!).

You do NOT HAVE to have to ring exchange at any wedding! ask your celebrant to exclude it!

I am failing to see why it matters.
Why don't you have your hand fasting first and exchange rings and *then* have the legal one. Then you are simply re-exchanging them.

Added to this there are many pagan priestess and priests that are legally ordained. Why don't you just kill two birds with one stone and find one so that you don't have to go to the registry office at all.

Yes it is allowed in Washington anyway. Different states might be different. Just call the registry's office they'll tell you.

I'm doing handfasting too!

Yes, you can get married without a ring. Just tell the officiant before hand.