A wedding in historic England or Wales... the stuff that dreams are made of! If you are planning on getting married in England or Wales, there are several legal hoops to jump through. The key to success, as always, is good research and preparation.
Always check with your embassy well in advance for up-to-date requirements. Many embassies recommend that you arrange your British wedding through a professional agency, but here are some guidelines if you choose to do-it-yourself.
Documentation
The following documents will be required:
- Passports
- Birth certificates – original or certified copies of long form including names of parents
- Evidence of termination of all previous marriages – original or certified copies of final divorce decrees, annulment decrees or death certificates
- Affidavit of consent to the marriage, witnessed by a notary or consular officer, from the parents or legal guardian of anyone aged 16-18
All documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by certified translations into English. If you were previously divorced in a court outside the UK, your divorce will need to be verified before your marriage in England or Wales. This process can take up to six weeks.
Notice of Intent to Marry
Unless you plan to marry in an Anglican (Church of England or Church of Wales) religious ceremony, you must give a legal notice of intent to marry. Write to the register office detailing your travel arrangements and intended date of marriage. Arrange to meet with the registrar immediately upon arrival in England or Wales and make an appointment to give formal notice of intent to marry.
Types of Ceremonies
- Civil ceremonies in register offices
- Civil ceremonies in approved buildings (castles, stately homes, hotels)
- Religious ceremonies in Anglican Churches (Church of England or Church of Wales)
- Religious ceremonies in other registered religious buildings
All marriage ceremonies must take place in the presence of a Superintendent Registrar or an authorized person (e.g., Vicar or Priest) and at least two witnesses. Open-air marriages are prohibited.
Civil Ceremonies – Register Offices
One of the following certificates is required for a civil ceremony.
1. Superintendent Registrar's Certificate - Both parties must give notice of intent to marry and must have been resident in the district for seven days. A period of 21 clear days (excluding Sundays) must pass before the Superintendent Registrar can issue the certificate. Upon issuance of this certificate, the marriage must take place within three months.
2. Superintendent Registrar's Certificate and License - Both parties must be resident in England or Wales on the day that the notice of intent to marry is given. One party must have been resident in the district for 15 days. One clear day must pass before the Registrar can issue the certificate and license. Upon issuance of this certificate, the marriage must take place within three months. This is the more expensive option.
For further information, contact:
General Register Office for England and Wales
Marriages Section, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport PR8 2HH, England
Phone: 151 471 4803
Civil Ceremonies – Approved Buildings
For a list of registered premises, contact:
General Register Office for England and Wales
Local Services, P.O. Box 56, Southport PR8 2GL
Phone: 151 471 4817
Religious Ceremonies – Anglican (Church of England or Church of Wales)
If you plan to be married in the Anglican Church, contact the Vicar (clergyman) of the particular church for an explanation of the legal preliminaries -- either publication of banns or by common license.
1. Common License - One of the parties must swear in an affidavit that there is no legal impediment to the marriage and that one of the parties has been resident in the parish where the marriage will take place for at least the fifteen preceding days. The marriage must take place within three months.
2. Publication of Banns - This process involves an announcement during a church service that the couple intends to marry. Banns are published on three successive Sundays and then the marriage must take place within three months.
Anglican Church authorities advise that marriage between two foreigners or between a foreigner and a British subject should be by common license.
For further information, contact:
Church of England
Enquiry Centre, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ, England
Phone: 20 7222 9011
Religious Ceremonies – Other
If you plan a religious ceremony outside the Anglican Church, you should contact the person in charge of marriages at the building. The legal requirements are the same as those that apply to civil marriages. Both parties must give notice of intent to marry at the Register Office.
If the building in which you intend to marry is not registered for the solemnization of marriages, arrange a civil ceremony first to comply with legal requirements.
For further information, contact:
Catholic Marriage Care
1 Blythe Mews, Blythe Road, London, NW3 0NW, England
Phone: 20 7371 1341
Jewish Marriage Council
23 Ravenshurst Avenue, London, NW1 4EL, England
Phone: 20 8203 6311
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