What do you pay, and when, when getting married?
You pay in three main stages: a notice fee each when you give notice, a ceremony fee when you book your wedding date, and certificate costs after the ceremony when you order certified copies. Understanding this order helps you budget across the months rather than expecting one single bill.
Stage one: giving notice
The notice fee is paid at your notice appointment, individually by each partner, at your own local register office regardless of where you plan to marry. This happens at least 28 days before the wedding, often earlier, so it's usually the first fee you pay in the process.
Stage two: booking the ceremony
The ceremony fee is normally paid, or at least a deposit is taken, when you book your date with the register office or approved venue. Approved venues typically require the venue's own fee and the registration service's attendance fee to be settled separately, often at different points in the booking process.
Stage three: after the wedding
Certificate costs come last. You can often pre-order certified copies when you book the ceremony so they're ready on the day, or order them afterwards whenever you need one — this is the one cost point that doesn't have a fixed deadline.
- Notice fee — paid at your notice appointment, per person
- Ceremony fee — paid or deposited when you book your date
- Certificate copies — paid whenever you order them, before or after the day
What this means for you
- Spread your budgeting across months rather than expecting to pay everything at once.
- Check each office's own deposit and payment policy, since booking terms vary by council and venue.
- You can delay ordering certificate copies if you're not sure yet how many you'll need.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Fees for marriages and civil partnerships
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026
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Simply Married is an independent planning service, not a register office or government department. Confirm current requirements and fees with your own register office and on GOV.UK.