Giving notice of marriage
Giving notice of marriage is a legal declaration you and your partner each make in person, at the register office covering the district where you live, stating your intention to marry. It must happen at least 28 days before the ceremony, and it is a separate step from booking your wedding.
Why notice exists
Notice is a public legal record that gives anyone with a lawful objection — for example that one of you is already married — the chance to raise it before the ceremony takes place. It is not a formality layered on top of the wedding; it is the legal act that makes the marriage possible.
Your details, including the proposed ceremony venue and date, are entered on a public notice book at the register office and held for the statutory period.
Who gives notice, and where
Each of you gives notice individually, in person, at the register office for the district where you have lived for at least the last seven full days. If you live in different districts, you each attend your own local office.
What it is not
Giving notice is not the same as booking your ceremony. You can hold a ceremony date with a venue or register office separately, but the notice itself is what starts your legal countdown, and it records the specific details of the wedding you told them about.
What this means for you
- You cannot marry until 28 clear days have passed since you gave notice, so it must happen well before your wedding date.
- Notice is valid for 12 months, so giving it too early wastes the window if your date later slips.
- Changing key details after notice, such as venue, may mean giving notice again.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
- GOV.UK — Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
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.