Wedding Advice for English Weddings

The following guidelines are not intended to be comprehensive. Please check with your local Registrar's office. (They also apply to England and Wales only)

The first decision to be made is whether you want a church or civil ceremony:

Civil Ceremony

Many couples, for many reasons are choosing to marry in a civil ceremony, maybe following this with a blessing at a later date.

If a civil ceremony is your choice, you must approach the Superintendant Registrar of the District in which you want to wed (these are at the beginning of each venue on the appropriate page). You also, once the date and venue are arranged, need to inform the Superintendant Registrar of your home district.

Civil Ceremonies

Notice must be given to your local Registrar in person, and with the following documentation:

• A Decree Absolute in the case of divorcees, or a death certificate if one partner is widowed.
• You will also be asked for your passport, and the written consent of parents if bride or groom is under 18.
• When you attend your local registry office to give notice of impending marriage, you must have lived in the district for at least 7 days. If you live in different districts, notice must be given to the registrars of both, the marriage can take place after another 15 days
• Do remember to take along two witnesses for the ceremony.

Religious Ceremonies

• Generally speaking it is necessary to marry in a religious building located in your home district. Approach the Minister of the builing concerned for the legal requirements.
• Unless the legal requirements are met, the wedding can be stopped …so it is worth checking with the registrar's office to make sure you have complied with all aspects. (All negotiations with Registrars must be done in person, by both parties).

Payment - nationally set fees for Registry offices, locally set fees for licensed venues.