How to get married in the UK
To marry in England or Wales you must both be eligible, give notice in person at the register office for the district where you each live, and then wait the statutory notice period before the ceremony. The ceremony itself must take place somewhere legally approved, with the required registration officials or authorised person present.
The five legal steps
Every legal marriage in England and Wales follows the same skeleton, whatever the wedding looks like on the day.
- Confirm you are both eligible to marry each other
- Choose the ceremony type and a venue that can host it legally
- Give notice in person at your own register office district
- Wait the statutory notice period
- Marry in front of the required officials and witnesses, and sign the marriage schedule
Scotland and Northern Ireland are different
The rules on this site cover England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate marriage law, different notice paperwork and different residency rules, so a plan built for England will not transfer.
If you live in England or Wales but want to marry in Scotland or Northern Ireland, deal directly with the registration authority there.
The order matters more than the paperwork
Couples rarely fail on eligibility. They come unstuck on sequence: booking a ceremony before checking notice appointment availability, or giving notice before the venue is confirmed.
Hold your ceremony date first, then book notice appointments, then give notice. That way your notice records the right venue and you are not paying twice.
What this means for you
- Your two register office districts are decided by where you each live, not by where you want to marry.
- The notice period starts on the day notice is given, not the day you book the appointment.
- If your ceremony details change materially after notice, you may need to give notice again.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
Last reviewed: 16 August 2026 · Next review due 16 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.