Getting married in England and Wales
Start here if you know you want to marry but not what the law asks of you. These pages cover the whole journey in plain English, from eligibility to the day itself.
How to get married in the UK
The legal steps to marry in England and Wales: check eligibility, choose your ceremony, give notice at your register office, wait, then marry.
Getting married in England
What the law asks of you to marry in England: eligibility, notice at your local register office, the waiting period, and legally approved ceremony venues.
Getting married in Wales
Marrying in Wales: the same marriage law as England, with Welsh-language ceremony options and registration handled by your local authority.
Getting married step by step
A practical order of events for a legal marriage in England and Wales, from first date check to signing the marriage schedule.
What makes a marriage legal in England and Wales?
The legal ingredients of a valid marriage in England and Wales: eligibility, notice, an approved ceremony and the correct paperwork signed at the time.
What is a civil marriage?
Civil marriage in England and Wales: what it means, where it can take place, and how it differs from a religious ceremony.
What do you need for a civil ceremony?
The legal requirements for a civil marriage ceremony: notice, an approved venue, registrars, witnesses and the marriage document.
How does getting married work in England and Wales?
A plain-English walkthrough of how legal marriage works in England and Wales, from eligibility to signing the marriage document.
Can you get married without having a wedding?
Yes — a short statutory ceremony with two witnesses is a full legal marriage. What it involves and why couples choose it.
Marriage or civil partnership: what is the difference?
How marriage and civil partnership differ in England and Wales, and what to weigh up when choosing between them.
Who can get married in England and Wales?
The eligibility rules for marrying in England and Wales: age, existing relationships, family ties, capacity and residency.
Who can be a witness at your wedding?
The rules on marriage witnesses in England and Wales: how many you need, who qualifies, and what they are agreeing to.
How do you choose the right ceremony type?
Civil, religious or a mix of both: how to decide which type of wedding ceremony fits your circumstances and beliefs.
How does religious marriage work in England and Wales?
How religious weddings become legally valid: registered buildings, authorised officiants, and how the rules vary between faiths.
What are banns and do you need them for a church wedding?
How banns of marriage work for Church of England and Church in Wales weddings, and when civil notice is needed instead.
What is an approved venue for a civil wedding?
How venues become approved for civil marriage in England and Wales, and what to check before booking one.
How do you get your marriage certificate after the wedding?
How marriage certificates work after your ceremony: what you receive on the day and how to order official copies later.
How do you change your name after getting married?
The practical steps to change your surname after marriage in England and Wales, using your marriage certificate as evidence.
Can you marry abroad and have it recognised in the UK?
How UK residents can marry abroad, follow the local country's legal process, and have the marriage recognised back in England and Wales.
Are you eligible to get married? A quick check
Run through the core eligibility rules for marrying in England and Wales before you book a venue or give notice.
Not sure which rules apply to you?
Answer a few quick questions and see your route, your likely register office and your earliest date.
Take the free marriage check