Essential guide: How to get married in the UK

Before you get to the fun part of planning a wedding, like choosing your wedding flowers and deciding on the perfect dress, there are a few legal bits and pieces you need to sort first. Don't worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! We’ve broken down the essential steps you need to take before tying the knot, so you understand exactly what your options are when it comes to deciding on the right type of wedding for you. Our ultimate guide on how to get married in the UK covers everything from ceremony types to giving notice to all the different costs you’ll need to factor in.

Getting married is about more than just booking a venue and turning up on the day. It's a relatively lengthy process, that can begin up to a year before the big day, but one we’re sure you’ll agree is totally worth it in the end.

More than just a gesture of your love and commitment to each other, getting married is a legal affair that requires a few crucial steps in order to make it official in the eyes of the law. This includes giving notice at your local registry office, booking a registrar to marry you, exchanging vows, plus a few other rules and regulations that come into play, but more on that later.

So, if you’ve found yourself Googling ‘how to get married’ and still feel none the wiser, you’ve come to the right place. Our ultimate guide to getting married in the UK contains everything you need to know about the legal process, from the rules around marriage eligibility to how to order your marriage certificates. Brush up on your legal knowledge, then dive into the fun stuff - like planning your wedding table decor!

What types of weddings are there?

There are a few different types of wedding ceremony in the UK. These fall into three camps: religious, non-religious and humanist weddings. Which one you choose is completely up to you and your partner's beliefs, the type of wedding you've always envisaged, and ultimately doing what feels right for you. Below we've included details on what each one entails:

Civil ceremony

A civil ceremony is a non-religious ceremony that can take place at a registry office or licensed wedding venue. It is conducted by a registrar (an official who legally conducts civil marriage ceremonies in the UK) and must contain no religious content, such as prayers or hymns. Instead, couples can exchange vows, include their own readings, and play songs that feel personal to them.

In order for the marriage to be legally binding, the couple must sign the marriage schedule at the end of the ceremony, and there must be two witnesses present.

A well-dressed ceremony room at Rookesbury Park

Religious ceremony

Religious weddings are conducted according to a specific faith and take place in a place of worship, such as a church, chapel, mosque or other religious building. They are conducted by a religious officiant and include traditional rituals according to each faith such as prayers, readings and hymns.

Civil partnership

Civil partnerships are a legally binding alternative to marriage that doesn’t require a ceremony. They are open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, and are generally considered a more flexible option for couples who wish to be wed outside of a traditional marriage format. The signing of the civil partnership documents must still be overseen by two witnesses and a registrar.

Humanist ceremony

A humanist ceremony is a non-religious wedding that is led by a humanist celebrant, and focuses on celebrating the love and commitment between two people.

Humanist ceremonies are not currently legal in England and Wales, and tend to be better suited to those who are after a non-conventional wedding that’s a lot more flexible. However, humanist weddings are currently legal in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Marriage eligibility: What are the legal requirements to get married in the UK?

In order to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK, there are a few rules you must abide to. You must be:

• 18 or over in England and Wales, or 16 or over in Scotland
• Not already married or in a civil partnership
• Not related to each other

Choosing a wedding venue: How do I book a venue and registrar?

Once you've decided on the type of wedding that’s right for you, you can go ahead and choose your wedding venue. If you’re having a civil ceremony, you’ll need to choose a licensed wedding venue that’s legally allowed to host weddings. Not all venues have a wedding license so check this before you book. You’ll then need to make sure the local registrar is available on the same date as your wedding. For this reason, we recommend getting in touch with your registry office to secure a registrar as soon as your wedding date is confirmed.

Need help finding a venue? We've created a wealth of guides to the best wedding venues in the UK, from the best pub wedding venues for relaxed occasions, to the most romantic wedding venues across the country. 

Old Palace Chester is a beautiful Georgian country house that's licensed for wedding ceremonies

Giving notice: How to give notice to be married

You’ll need to give notice at your local registry office of your intention to be married, whether or not you’re getting married in that specific borough. You must give notice at least 29 days before your wedding, and will need to complete your ceremony within 12 months of giving notice, otherwise you’ll need to start the process again.

Both partners must also have been resident in England or Wales for at least seven days before giving notice to be married.

What legal documents do you need to get married in the UK?

When you give notice, you will need to bring the following documents with you. Do note that the specific documents required when giving notice can vary depending on the registry office, so make sure to check beforehand what documents they require.

• Proof of name, age, and nationality: this can be a passport or birth certificate
• Proof of address: such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, UK driving license or council tax bill
• Proof of nationality: a passport or national identity card will suffice
• Proof of marital status: if applicable, you may need to bring the decree absolute (if divorced) or the death certificate (if widowed)
• Proof of any name changes: if you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to bring the deed poll or statutory declaration
• Venue details: you’ll need to give details of where your wedding is taking place

How much does it cost to get married in the UK?

When you give notice, you’ll need to pay a fee. This usually costs between £35-£42 per person.

You’ll also need to pay a fee for the registrar to marry you, but this can vary greatly depending on the location, type of ceremony, and day of the week of your wedding. For example, getting married at a registry office is often cheaper than booking a registrar to marry you at a licensed building, but costs can vary significantly, anywhere between £300 - £1,000.

The final legal cost you’ll need to consider is your marriage certificates, which cost £12.50 each. You can order these online and they will be sent out four days after you apply.

Factors that affect the cost of a wedding:

• Weekend weddings are more expensive than weekdays, especially on a Sunday or bank holiday
• Popular cities like London and Oxford charge higher fees for registrar bookings
• Some councils also charge an admin fee when booking a registrar or registry office

Worried about cost? Why not keep things intimate with a private wedding breakfast at Bentley's

What happens at the ceremony?

You’ve made it to the big day. So, what happens now? The exact order of events at your ceremony depends on the type of wedding you’re having, but we’ve listed out the most common elements below. Here's a rough order-of-the-day for your wedding ceremony. 

• Officiant welcome
• A reading (optional)
• Declaratory
• Exchanging of vows
• Exchanging of rings
• Pronouncement of marriage
• Kiss, if you want!
• Signing of the register (with two witnesses of your choice)
• Final words and exit

How to get your marriage certificate

It's not quite over! Now you need to order a copy of your marriage certificate to keep at home (you don't automatically receive this at the ceremony). To do this, simply register on the General Register Office (GRO) website and fill out the form. You can find more information about how to order your marriage certificate on the government website. 

Yet to book your venue? Explore our entire directory of wedding venues in the UK, from beautiful barn venues in Hampshire to the best country house wedding venues in the UK. Remember, we also offer a free concierge service to make finding the perfect wedding venue even easier! Get in touch today and we'll create a shortlist for you.