Civil Ceremonies
Legal civil ceremonies must be non-religious in content, so cannot include hymns, religious readings or prayers. The marriage must take place at a registered or licensed venue to be legally valid in England and Wales. Many private premises are licensed to hold civil weddings. Look for approved premises in our Venue Finder.
You can marry at register offices or other licenced premises outside your area.
First, select the register office or approved venue where you wish
your marriage to take place and make a provisional booking. To get
married in a register office outside your area then one of you must
be resident in the area for at least 7 days and then wait a further
15 days before they will be eligible to marry.
Contact the Superintendent Registrar, who will be conducting the
ceremony, to ensure his or her availability. Make an appointment to
give Formal Notice of Marriage at the Register Office(s) in the district(s)
in which you live. This must be done by each party in person.
Giving Notice means you are declaring that you are lawfully free
to marry each other. The notice must be carried out in person and
is valid for one year.
Certain original documents will be required, photocopies will not be accepted:
Proof of identity (birth certificates or passports)
If divorced - a Decree Absolute stamped by the court. If divorced
abroad bring your original divorce documents, which will need to
be translated if not in English.
If widowed - a death certificate for your late spouse.
If under 18 - proof of parents' or guardians' consent will be
required.
Legal civil ceremonies must be non-religious in content, so cannot include hymns, religious readings or prayers. The marriage must take place at a registered or licensed venue to be legally valid in England and Wales. Many private premises are licensed to hold civil weddings. Look for approved premises in our Venue Finder.
You can marry at register offices or other licenced premises outside your area.
First, select the register office or approved venue where you wish
your marriage to take place and make a provisional booking. To get
married in a register office outside your area then one of you must
be resident in the area for at least 7 days and then wait a further
15 days before they will be eligible to marry. Contact the Superintendent Registrar, who will be conducting the
ceremony, to ensure his or her availability. Make an appointment to
give Formal Notice of Marriage at the Register Office(s) in the district(s)
in which you live. This must be done by each party in person. Giving Notice means you are declaring that you are lawfully free
to marry each other. The notice must be carried out in person and
is valid for one year.Certain original documents will be required, photocopies will not be accepted:
Proof of identity (birth certificates or passports) If divorced - a Decree Absolute stamped by the court. If divorced
abroad bring your original divorce documents, which will need to
be translated if not in English. If widowed - a death certificate for your late spouse. If under 18 - proof of parents' or guardians' consent will be
required.
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