Getting married is an exciting milestone in life, but the legal procedures involved can often be overwhelming. If you're planning to have a civil marriage ceremony in the UK, it's important to understand the process and requirements to ensure a smooth and legally recognized union. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through each step of the procedure, from giving notice of marriage to the ceremony itself, and provide important information to help you navigate the process with ease.

Getting engaged

Engagements are not legally recognised in the United Kingdom but they can be used for immigration as an evidence of intention to marry.

Who can get married

Opposite sex couples can get married in a civil and religious ceremony.

Same sex couples can get a civil ceremony but will need to consult their religious authority to know if a religious ceremony is possible.

All couples must:

• both be 18 years old and over;

• Be free to marry, meaning single, widowed, divorced or dissolved civil partnership;

• Not be related;

• Be capable of understanding what marriage means and of consenting to a marriage.

Who will legally register your wedding

For your wedding to have a legal value, a special person has to present at your ceremony.

It can either be

• A registrar: a person from your local Register Office or,

• An authorised person: a person appointed by a registered building to manage their weddings. For example, your church might have an authorised person so you don’t need to book and pay for a registrar.

Where can a marriage take place

You must get married within the city/borough you live in or at your usual space of worship even if it’s outside of your residential city/borough.

A legally binding marriage can take place at:

• a Register Office

• a venue approved by the local authority such as a hotel (check the list on your city council website)

• a church of the Church of England, Church in Wales

• a synagogue or any other private place if both partners are Jewish

• any registered religious building (England and Wales only)

• a Meeting House if one or both partners are either members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) or are associated with the Society by attending meetings

• the home of one of the partners if the partner is housebound or detained, for example, in prison

• a place where one partner is seriously ill and not expected to recover, for example, in hospital

• a licensed naval, military or air force chapel

What to do before the ceremony

Both civil and religious ceremonies can be legally valid. 

For that you need to:

1. Give notice

2. Book and pay for a registrar or authorised person.

1 - Give notice

You and your partner need to give notice to your local Register Office.

You will need to book an appointment to give notice. It can be done on your city council website.

No  matter where you want to get married, you need to notify the Register Office from your current residential address. If you both live in different cities/boroughs you need to visit both offices.

In England and Wales, the Register Office will issue your marriage schedule, after approximately 28 days. This document will have all the information related to your wedding. The schedule is valid 12 months from the date it is issued.

Once the marriage schedule is issued, please carefully review it to spot any mistakes. 

It’s easier to change earlier than at the ceremony. 

The notice of marriage will be publicly displayed, so anyone with strong grounds can object to your wedding. 

You will pay a £35 fee per person to give notice, with an additional £12 for a Non-British.

Documents and Information needed to give notice

• Proof of identity

• Proof of address

• Proof of nationality

• Evidence of immigration status if needed

• Evidence of termination of a relationship, if you have been previously married or in a civil partnership (death certificate, divorce decree absolute, dissolution, or annulment document)

• Date of wedding ceremony

• Location of wedding ceremony

• Time of ceremony

• Name of witnesses (two or four maximum)

• Name of both parents of the couple and their occupation

Please contact your local Register Office for an updated list of the documents required.

*Church of England

For weddings conducted by the Church of England or the Church in Wales, you don’t need to give notice to the Register Office.

Your Church will publish Banns around four months before your wedding. The vicar will prepare the marriage schedule.

Under certain circumstances, the Church might need a marriage schedule issued by the Register Office. In this case, you will be responsible for bringing the document at your ceremony.

Contact your vicar for more personalised advice.

Without a marriage schedule, your ceremony won’t have any legal value.

I recommend giving notice 3 to 2 months before your wedding so you have enough time to make changes on your marriage schedule if needed.

2 - Book a registrar

The Registrar is from the Register Office. To have him present at your civil or religious ceremony, you need to book on your city council website.

The booking fee is dependent on the city council, the day and time of the year. 

It could go anywhere from £200 to more than £1,000.

Generally, if you have your civil ceremony in one of the City Halls, the registrar booking fee will be included in the venue rental fee.

*Church of England

You don’t need to book a registrar. 

*other religious denominations

If your place of worship doesn’t have an authorised person to register your wedding, you can either book a registrar from your local Register Office to be present at your ceremony or hold separate religious and civil ceremonies.

What happens at the ceremony

Pre-ceremony interview

You need to come 30 - 20 minutes before the ceremony to meet with the registrar or authorised person.

During this small meeting, he/she will ask you few questions such as:

• What is the name by which you are known, and have you been known by any other name?

• What is your date of birth?

• Have you been through any form of marriage or civil partnership in this or any other country?

This is to check that all the details on the marriage schedule are correct.

Your witnesses and you need to bring your passports or any other form of identification on the day of the wedding. 

Ceremony

The ceremony will be conducted by either the registrar (civil ceremony) or your religious officiant.

After the ceremony, the marriage schedule must be signed by the couple, the witnesses (two to four maximum), the registrar or authorised person and the officiant.

What happens after the ceremony

After your wedding ceremony, the registrar or authorised person has to send back your marriage schedule to the Register Office within 21 days.

The marriage schedule will then be recorded electronically. This will be your marriage certificate.

You can pay around £11 to have a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

When is a wedding considered legally valid?

Your wedding is considered valid if:

• It’s attended by the couple, at least two witnesses, the person conducting the ceremony and the person authorised to register the marriage;

• It’s done within a registered building;

• The marriage schedule is signed by all parties present.

Remember to contact your local city and your religious authorities to have up-to-date information about the procedure on holding your marriage.

Getting married is a beautiful and meaningful experience, and having a legally binding marriage in the UK ensures that your commitment is recognized by the law. By following the comprehensive guide outlined above, engaged couples can navigate the legal requirements and procedures with confidence.

However, it's important to remember that specific details and regulations may vary depending on the location and circumstances. For personalized advice and guidance, it's always best to consult with your local superintendent registrar. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage, and may your special day be filled with love, joy, and legal validity!