Who can be a witness at your wedding?
Every marriage in England and Wales needs at least two witnesses present at the ceremony, each aged 16 or over and able to understand what they are witnessing and confirm the marriage took place. There is no requirement for witnesses to be related to you, know you well, or be British citizens.
The minimum requirement
Two witnesses are the legal minimum. They sign the marriage document alongside you and the registrar or officiant, which is what makes their presence a legal requirement rather than a tradition.
Who qualifies
A witness must be at least 16, mentally capable of understanding the significance of what they are witnessing, and physically present throughout the relevant part of the ceremony. They do not need to be family, close friends, or even people who know the couple well.
- Aged 16 or over
- Able to understand what they are witnessing
- Present at the ceremony itself
- Willing to sign the marriage document
If you cannot bring anyone
Some register offices can provide staff to act as witnesses if you genuinely have no one to bring, though this varies by council, so ask in advance rather than assuming it is available.
What this means for you
- You can use different witnesses than you originally planned right up to the day, as long as they meet the requirements.
- Witnesses take on no ongoing legal responsibility beyond confirming the ceremony took place.
Official sources
Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026
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Related guides
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.