Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or Church of Wales by Banns or Common Licence, notice of marriage has to be given personally to your local superintendent registrar at the Register Office in the district where you both live. A notice of marriage states the names of the parties to the marriage, age, marital status, occupation, nationality and the intended venue for the wedding.
Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice. If you both live in the same district, you should both attend your local register office together to give notices of marriage. If you live in different registration districts then each of you will need to give notice separately in your respective district. After giving notice you must wait a further sixteen days before the marriage can take place. A notice lasts for a period of twelve months, but if there is a change of venue then a new notice must be given. If you are planning to get married in a different district to the one you live in, you must contact the registrar at that district before giving notice, to ensure that they are available for the wedding.
Your marriage cannot go ahead unless the legal formalities have been completed.
Notices off marriage must be given in person by you and your partner – no one else can do it for you on your behalf. When giving notice of marriage, proof of identity is required in the form of a passport or birth certificate. Those who have been previously married will have to produce documentary evidence of the death of their former spouse or the dissolution of the marriage, in the form of a death certificate or divorce decree.
Under the Marriage Act 1994, a marriage may take place in a place of religious worship, register office or public premises officially registered for marriages. Civil marriages may now therefore, occur in places such as stately homes, civic buildings or hotels, (but not open air venues – it is the rooms that are licenced, not the grounds).
There are nationally set fees for giving notice to the superintendent registrar and the registrar’s attendance at the marriage at a registrar office or religious building. However, the fee for the attendance of the superintendent registrar and registrar at a marriage in an approved premises (e.g. at a hotel) is set by the local authority. The superintendent registrar of the district where you wish to marry will be able to provide you with details of the fees payable.
On the day of your wedding you will need to take two people with you who are happy to witness your wedding and sign the marriage register.
In Short
- Select a few dates you are happy to get married on.
- Find a venue that suits your requirements (for the marriage ceremony itself – not necessarily the party venue afterwards)
- If the venue is in a different district to where you live, contact the registrar in that district to book them for the wedding ceremony.
- Collect together any necessary documentation and give notice of you intention to marry to the registrar in the district(s) that you live in.
- Continue to plan your wedding however you see fit
For more in-depth in formation please consult www.wedding-service.demon.co.uk
Also, for more advice if you think that immigration issues could apply to your situation please go to www.direct.gov.uk
