The Legal Formalities

Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or Church of Wales by Banns or Common Licence you and / or your partner must attend personally at the register office for the district(s) where you live and give a notice of your marriage to the superintendent registrar.

Notice of marriage can be given in one of two ways:

1 - By Certificate

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 only need to give one notice. If you live in different registration districts then each of you will need to give notice in your own area. After giving notice you must wait a further twenty-one days before the marriage can take place, (for example, if notice is given on 1 July the marriage may take place on or after 23 July).

2 - By Licence

To marry by this method, which is often known as 'special licence' and is more expensive, one of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least fifteen days before giving notice at the register office. Your partner only needs to be resident of, or be physically in England or Wales on the day notice is given. After notice is given the marriage can take place after one clear day (excluding a Sunday, Christmas Day or Good Friday). For example you can give notice on a Tuesday and be married on the Thursday.

How Far In Advance May I Make A Booking?

A notice of marriage is valid for three months only. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar more than three months before the date of your marriage. However, it should be possible for you to make an advance (provisional) booking with the superintendent registrar of the district where you wish to marry twelve months before the ceremony. The sooner you arrange to book the marriage the more likely it is that you will get the date and time of your choice. The superintendent registrar will be able to give you more precise information in this respect.

Documents You May Need To Produce

When you attend before the superintendent registrar or Vicar to make the formal arrangements you will need to produce certain documents. For example, if you have been married before a decree absolute of divorce bearing the court's original stamp, or if your husband or wife died, a certificate of their death.

It would also be useful if your birth certificate or passport (or some other identity document) could be produced. Photocopies are unlikely to be acceptable. Other documents may also be required depending on the circumstances. For example, the consent of parents to a marriage where one of the couple is under the age of 18.

If you are unable to provide any of the above documents, the superintendent registrar will explain what other documents may be acceptable.