How does getting married work in England and Wales?
Getting married legally works in a fixed sequence: you check you are both eligible, choose where and how you want to marry, give notice at your own register offices, wait the statutory notice period, and then hold the ceremony where you make your declarations and sign the marriage document. The wedding you picture — venue, guests, outfits — sits on top of that legal skeleton.
The legal process underneath the wedding
Whatever the day looks like, the same legal process runs underneath it: eligibility, notice, waiting period, approved ceremony location, and correct signing. A grand marquee wedding and a two-witness register office ceremony follow exactly the same rules.
Notice is the part people underestimate
Notice must be given in person at the register office covering where you live, after at least seven days' residence there, and it starts a clock — usually 28 days — before you are free to marry. This step is separate from booking your ceremony and is easy to leave too late.
The ceremony and afterwards
On the day, you make legal declarations, two witnesses sign alongside you and the registrar or authorised person, and the marriage is entered into the registration system. You can order certified copies of the marriage certificate afterwards, which you will need for changing your name or dealing with official bodies.
What this means for you
- Book your ceremony date, then work backwards to fit in notice appointments and the waiting period.
- The marriage becomes legal at the moment the marriage document is signed, not before.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
- 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.