How does religious marriage work in England and Wales?

A religious marriage is legally valid in England and Wales when it takes place in a building registered for marriage and is conducted by, or in the presence of, someone authorised to register the marriage. Requirements and preliminaries vary between faiths, with the Church of England and Church in Wales following a distinct route through banns.

Registered buildings and authorised persons

Not every place of worship is automatically registered for marriage — the building itself must hold that registration, and either a registrar attends or an 'authorised person' from the religious organisation registers the marriage on the spot.

Preliminaries vary by faith

Most faiths other than the Church of England and Church in Wales require the same civil notice as a civil marriage, given in person at your local register office. The Church of England and Church in Wales can instead use banns, read aloud in the relevant parish churches in the weeks before the wedding.

Immigration checks still apply

Where either partner is subject to immigration control, civil notice and the associated checks are generally required regardless of the religious route chosen, even where banns would normally apply.

What this means for you

Check with the religious building directly whether it is registered for marriage before assuming your ceremony will count legally.
If either of you is subject to immigration control, expect civil notice to be required even in a religious ceremony.

Official sources

Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026

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