Simply Married

The marriage process, step by step

The process runs: confirm eligibility, choose a ceremony type and venue, book notice appointments, give notice in person, wait the statutory notice period, then marry and sign the marriage schedule. Doing these steps out of order is the most common cause of delay.

Step 1 and 2: eligibility and venue

Confirm you are both free to marry and can evidence it, then hold a ceremony date with your venue and the registration service covering it before you book notice appointments.

Step 3 and 4: notice and the wait

Book your notice appointment for your own district as soon as your ceremony details are settled, since notice records specific venue information. Notice is valid for twelve months and starts the statutory waiting period from the day it is given.

Step 5: the ceremony

On the day, you marry in front of the required officials and at least two witnesses, and sign the marriage schedule (or register, depending on your circumstances) to make the marriage legal.

  • Confirm eligibility
  • Choose ceremony type and venue
  • Book and attend notice appointments
  • Wait the statutory notice period
  • Marry and sign the marriage schedule

What this means for you

  • The notice period is a minimum, not a target — appointment availability often decides your real earliest date.
  • Material changes to your ceremony details after notice can mean giving notice again.

Official sources

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

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Related guides

Getting married step by stepA practical order of events for a legal marriage in England and Wales, from first date check to signing the marriage schedule.What order should the legal steps happen in?The order that avoids paying twice: hold your ceremony date, then book notice appointments, then give notice, then wait.Marriage checklist for England and WalesA practical legal checklist for getting married in England and Wales — the administrative tasks, in order, with the ones that take weeks flagged.

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.