Can you get a refund if you cancel your wedding?

Notice fees

Once you've given notice and paid the fee, the work of checking your eligibility to marry has already happened, so this fee is not typically refunded if you later cancel or postpone. If you need to marry on a later date, you may be able to use the same notice within its 12-month validity rather than giving notice again.

Ceremony and venue fees

Register offices and approved venues each set their own cancellation and refund terms, which are usually set out at the time of booking. Some offer a partial refund or a date transfer if you cancel with enough notice; others treat the fee as non-refundable once paid, especially closer to the date.

Approved venues often have separate, and sometimes stricter, cancellation terms for their own charge than the registration service does for its attendance fee.

What to check before you pay

Ask about cancellation and transfer terms before paying any deposit, not after. This is especially worth doing if your date depends on something outside your control, such as visa timing or a partner's travel.

• Ask what happens if you need to cancel more than three months out, versus closer to the date
• Ask whether a date change counts as a cancellation or a transfer
• Get the cancellation policy in writing when you book