Marriage - helping you with marriage
Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. Planning an occasion as big as this can be hard work. These pages gather together some of the key information you may need to organise your Wedding Day.
The Ceremony
If you wish to marry in England or Wales, you may do so either by civil or religious ceremony.
A civil ceremony can take place in a Register Office or other building licensed for marriage ceremonies. The ceremony is conducted by a Registration Officer; it must be of a strictly none religious nature.
A religious ceremony can take place in a church, chapel or other building of religious worship, which has been formally registered for marriage ceremonies. The minister in accordance with the religious rites and ceremonies of the premises conducts the service.
Church of England or Church in Wales
If you wish to be married in either of the above you or your partner would generally have to live within the parish of the church, or be a regular worshipper. If the minister is able to marry you, he/she will arrange for the Banns to be called or for a Common Licence to be issued. The minister will also register the marriage, and there is generally no need to involve the local Superintendent Registrar. If the Register Office needs to be contacted, the vicar will advise you.
Other Places of Religious Worship
The church or religious building in question must normally be located within the registration district where you or your partner live, or, if outside the district, be a place of regular worship for either or both of you. The Minister of the venue will conduct the service, but occasionally a Registrar is required to register the marriage. The above information is a general guide only. For marriages outside England or Wales, or marriages of people with special needs or requirements, contact the Superintendent Registrar (see above) for advice.
The Legal Formalities
Unless you are marrying in the Church of England of Church in Wales by Banns or Common License, notice of marriage has to be given by each of you personally to your local Superintendent Registrar(s). Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice at the register office. If you both live in the same district, you will each give notice at the same office. If you live in different registration districts, you will each give notice separately in your own area.
A notice of marriage is valid for twelve months. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar more than twelve months before the date of your wedding. A notice of marriage is valid only for the venue named on the notice. Whereas it may be possible to alter the date of your marriage (provided it is before the expiry date), a change of location would require a fresh notice and fee.
After giving notice you must wait a further fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place (for example, if notice is given on 3rd July, the marriage may take place on or after 20th July).
BOTH authorities must have been issued on or before the day of the marriage.
