Legal steps

Getting married in England and Wales: the legal steps

Start with the notice

In England and Wales you must give notice of your marriage or civil partnership at least 29 days before the ceremony. You usually do this by appointment at your local register office, and you must have lived in that registration district for the past 7 days.

If you live in different districts, you each give notice at your own office. GOV.UK explains how giving notice works, including the extra rules if one of you is from outside the UK.

Book the venue before you give notice

Your notice has to include the details of the final venue, and the ceremony must take place within 12 months of giving notice. That's why most couples book the ceremony venue first and then make the register office appointment.

Check you can marry

You can marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales if you're 18 or over and not already married or in a civil partnership. You also can't be closely related to each other.

Civil or religious ceremony?

A civil ceremony can take place at a register office or at any venue approved by the local council, such as a hotel or a stately home. It can include readings, songs and music, but nothing religious. A religious wedding can take place at any registered religious building.

GOV.UK's ceremony guide sets out who must be present and the current registrar fees.

On the day

You need at least 2 witnesses. If you're getting married you must exchange vows, while a civil partnership doesn't need them. You, your partner, your witnesses and the registrar or authorised person then sign the marriage schedule, which is added to the register.

After the ceremony

Your certificate comes from the register office once the schedule has been registered. It's worth ordering a copy early if you're planning to change your name on your passport or bank accounts.

Getting married in Scotland or Northern Ireland

The rules are different there. For Scotland, see mygov.scot.

For Northern Ireland, see nidirect.

A note on this guide

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so please check the official sources we link to before you make a decision.