Wedding 101 - How to Get Legally Married in England and Wales | 2022 Update

What You Need To Know To Get Legally Married in England and Wales
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Back in 2018 we filmed our Wedding 101 video to give you the bare bones of what you actually NEED to be able to get legally married in England and Wales as a UK citizen. Since then there have been some CHANGES so it was about time we filmed an update. Here are the key facts you need to know, whether you're planning a religious ceremony, civil ceremony or civil partnership. (Information is correct as of February 2022)
For the most current and accurate information, please visit the Government website: bit.ly/2E1mnCi
Find your Register Office: bit.ly/36qK5Xx
Please note: The information in the video applies to UK citizens only (you can get married here if you're not, but we were not able to go in to that level of detail today, please visit the government website for further info.) UK law is always changing, and whilst we have made every effort to present information accurately, this only represents the best of our knowledge. You should always refer to the UK government website.
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[@zahidbismil46]

You are giving magnificent tips.wish u all the best.keep going on..

[@BrideSociety]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@Kkkk-iw7pt]

Hi. So I book the venue first (civic hall) then give notice?

[@BrideSociety]

Hiya. Yes, if you’re in England or Wales, you have to book your venue first.

[@DannyGrantham]

thanks for your help kep it coming I will get 2 friends of mine married thanks

[@BrideSociety]

Glad we could help. 🙂

[@tcafdees7249]

Can I get married in the UK as a US citizen? If so, can you make a video about what my fiancé and I need to do?

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Denas, Thanks for your question. Yes, it’s my understanding that US citizens can come to the UK for their wedding. This link to the UK government website is useful: www.gov.uk/come-uk-married You’ll need a marriage visa and that will also allow you to be in the country for 6 months, so plenty of time to sort last minute details and enjoy your celebrations. I hope that’s a helpful starting point.

[@br33et]

Do you still need to give notice if you're marrying in a religious ceremony

[@BrideSociety]

Hi @yaaanimah, Thank you for your question. Typically, no, you would not need to give notice for a religious marriage ceremony, but this depends on the religion. If it is the Church of England for example, instead of 'giving notice', normally 'banns' are published before the wedding. This is done about four months before the wedding date. However, there are some circumstances in which you may need a Special Licence, Common Licence or a Marriage Schedule from the register office to marry in church. Your vicar will let you know if these apply to you. I hope that helps.

[@selinaangelx8228]

Thank you

[@luckshi1390]

Can we also get registered married in a Catholic Church? Or does it have to be the register office ?

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Luckshi1390, I’m not entirely sure I understand the question, so if this doesn’t help perhaps you could rephrase for me? …If you choose a religious ceremony, such as Catholic, then the priest will be able to register your marriage for you. The process of registering your intention to marry by giving notice is specific to civil weddings. You make that declaration at the registry office but you don’t have to have your wedding there. Civil weddings can take place anywhere that has a license. So the key difference in process is dependent on whether you’re choosing a religious or civil ceremony. I hope that answers your question, but if not feel free to come back to us.

[@hollymcglade803]

Hi, me and my partner are from north wales but want to get married in cumbria due to the venue, how do we go about the notice as we dont live in cumbria 😬

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Holly, congratulations on your engagement! You'll give notice in the district where you're both currently living rather than where you're getting married. So it sounds like you'll give notice in North Wales at your local register office. Hope that helps. :)

[@gracesonalias]

Hi , my wife has a work visa in UK and she is a senior care taker there…currently I am in india and we wish to get register our marriage in UK. Which visa should I need to take and what all additional steps should I need to take !

[@Manc-king]

Me and my fiancé are both British citizens but she lives in the US does she have to come over just for the at least 29 days to sign to give notice?

[@BrideSociety]

Hi @mtuey, Thanks for your question. My understanding is that yes, she would just have to come over for the giving notice, 29 days to 1 year before your wedding ceremony which you would do at the registry office in your registration district (which you must have lived in for at least 7 days).

[@mrteachergmt1]

In th council site where I’m doing notice to get married I have questions “what appointment type do you need ? Single or double? “ what is it mean? Can i choose single or must be double ? Thank you

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Roma, Thanks for reaching out to us. Honestly that’s not one I’ve come across before. My guess would be that a double appointment would be for if you have more than one thing you need to see them appointment, like at the GP’s, but I don’t know that for sure. Which council website is it?

[@TA8TASTIC]

Hi, I am not clear from the video on how to locate a ' religious venue'. My son is getting married in a wedding hall. Would the registrar visit the hall to get them legally married? Being Muslims, we have a religious ceremony called nikah, done by an imam. Do we need a registrar and an imam both? Or does the marriage notice set the ceremony to be religious only. Please, if you can, help explain this scenario. Hope my question makes sense Thanks

[@BrideSociety]

Hi @Ta8tastic, Thank you for your question. As I understand it, if they wish for their marriage to be recognised by UK law, then yes, they will have to complete a civil ceremony in addition to the Nikah. A registrar will come out to your venue as long as it’s licensed for weddings and not a religious building (licensed venues can be found on the government website and be provided by the council in the area your son is marrying) - by the sounds of it, a ‘wedding hall’ should be fine assuming it meets that criteria. The civil ceremony could be performed before or after the Nikah, but they cannot be combined as no religious content is allowed during a civil ceremony. All that said, I would consult your Imam as they will likely be in the best position to advise you most accurately. I hope that helps a little. Bride Society x

[@TA8TASTIC]

@@BrideSociety thank you so much for the reply . Makes complete sense

[@TA8TASTIC]

@@BrideSociety thanks so much. Your answer and your video a better guide than what council puts up on their website xxx

[@BrideSociety]

Happy to have been of help @Ta8tastic, and thank you for the positive feedback, we really appreciate it. X

[@luckshi1390]

Does my partner have to register in his area? And I have to register in my own area ? Or can we both register in one area ?

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Luckshi1390, Thanks for your question. If you’re asking about the process of ‘giving notice’, then according to UK government guidance, as it currently stands, “you and your partner will need to give notice separately if you live in different registration districts. You do not have to do this on the same day.” I hope that clears things up for you.

[@kulwinderkaur5567]

​@@BrideSociety hello mam how much time scan my all documents and interview when my appointment notice of marriage

[@BrideSociety]

@@kulwinderkaur5567 Hi there, I'm sorry, could you clairfy your question for me and we'll do our best to help. Thanks.

[@karissatrinidad6484]

Hello, if you don't have your passport in hand in giving notice can you show your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) instead? thank you!

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Karissa, Thanks for reaching out to us. So, the citizens advice bureau says, “A variety of documents can be used as evidence of the information required, but a passport or travel document is usually sufficient. You can also use your birth certificate if you were born before 1 January 1983. You should contact the register office where you're getting married for more specific advice on what they will accept.” So that suggests to me that there’s a possibility your BRP might be accepted, or indeed your birth certificate if you’re over 40.5 years old. But I would do what they suggest and give your local registry office a call or check their own website for confirmation before attending your appointment.

[@muktarmohammed4671]

So how with you?

[@BrideSociety]

We’re good thanks. Hope you are too 👍🏻

[@GURWINDERSINGH-ov5pd]

Hi im citizen of india and stayed in uk as a student and i have a biomateric residence permit and my partner is also from india and she is living in canada as a student how can we do marriage in uk ?

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Gurwinder, Thanks for your question. Yes, it’s my understanding that citizens of India can come to the UK for their wedding. This link to the UK government website is useful: www.gov.uk/come-uk-married You’ll need a marriage visa and that will also allow you to be in the country for 6 months, so plenty of time to sort last minute details and enjoy your celebrations. I hope that’s a helpful starting point.

[@kulwinderkaur5567]

@@BrideSocietyHi I'm citizen of india and stayed in uk as aa student and my partner also stayed in UK as aa student can I getting civil partnerships marriage in uk pls tell me?

[@soton5teve]

same sex marriage is NOT fully legal in england and wales until humanist marriage is fully legal in england and wales

[@pawanbrar6505]

can u tell me plse how to do court marriage for foreigner can how we can fill form

[@BrideSociety]

Hi Pawan, I’m afraid that in the UK we don’t have ‘court marriage’, our equivalent would be being married by a registrar in a registry office. To find out about this and more please visit the Government website: bit.ly/2E1mnCi

[@sirreginaldgaming]

@@BrideSociety boo

[@dalemoore8582]

Wow so many rules, Sad

[@BrideSociety]

Yea, it does get a little complicated, but believe it or not, the UK rules are pretty minimal compared to some other places in the world.

[@FA9082]

A man would have to be utterly stupid to get legally married in the UK or US nowadays wirh the way family law destroys the lives of men and their families, but I appreciate the video 👍

[@imanyassaee]

Thank you

[@BrideSociety]

No problem 👍🏻