Marriage Laws

Civil Ceremonies

A Civil Ceremony is conducted by a Registrar, either in a Registry Office or a venue that holds a Civil Licence. The ceremony is not allowed to contain religious elements, although you may choose to include music, poetry or readings to accompany the ceremony. You can also discuss the vows you intend to take with the registrar and customise them to suit.

Civil Licence

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a Civil Ceremony can take place in an approved venue (such as a hotel, castle etc.) that holds a Civil Licence. The law states that you cannot marry outside, or in a temporary or movable structure (such as a marquee). A Civil Licence is not required for alternative venues in Scotland, but different laws apply.

Many establishments that hold a Civil Licencel offer a full wedding service and will be able to provide you will a lot of advice and support.

England and Wales

Civil Ceremonies

A Civil Ceremony can take place in a Registry Office, or a venue that holds a Civil Licence. If you intend a Civil Ceremony in England or Wales the procedure you need to follow is:

• You both need to give formal notice of your intention to marry to the Registrar in the district you live in. If you live in the same district you should attend the Registry Office to give notice together, although you do not have to by law. You must have lived in the district for at least 7 full days before you can give notice.
• Once you have given notice you can marry within a year, but not before 15 clear days have passed.
• You need to book your date with the Registrar in the district you wish to marry.
• The Registrar will require you to produce certain documents for evidence of your identity and the correct spelling of your name etc. A current UK Passport is a preferred document, but chequebooks, credit cards and birth certificates are also acceptable. Your Registrar will advise you on this.

• If you have been married before you will need to provide evidence of your divorce.
• If you intend to have a Civil Ceremony in a venue that holds a Civil Licence you will need to discuss this with the Registrar and the venue as early as possible to ensure availability.
• If you are marrying in a district that is different to the one you live in, your local Registrar will issue a Certificate of Authority to Get Married. This must be collected and taken to the Registrar performing the ceremony prior to the wedding taking place.
• Additional evidence of identity may be required if you, or your partner, are resident overseas.
• On the day you need to make sure you have at least two people to accompany you, witness the marriage and sign the marriage register.

Northern Ireland

These differ from ceremonies in England and Wales in the following ways:

• You can marry by Registrar’s Certificate or by Registrar’s Licence.
• You must give notice to your local Registrar’s Office and you will be able to marry in 21 days (by Certificate) or 7 days (by Licence).
• If you marry by Licence at least one you should have been living in the area for at least 15 days. Proof of residency is usually required for all marriages in Northern Ireland.
• A Certificate or Licence allows you to marry in the Registry Office, Church or any other approved venue.

For details of Religious ceremonies you should contact the local Minister of your faith. For some faiths the local Registrar may not be involved.

Further information should be obtained from you local Registrar’s Office or from:

The Registrar for Northern Ireland
Oxford House
49 – 55 Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 4HF