Give notice and plan your ceremony

You cannot give notice at a register office or hold a wedding or civil partnership ceremony at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). How giving notice works You must decide where to have your marriage or civil partnership ceremony before giving notice. You must then sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as ‘giving notice’. You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony. You must hold the ceremony within 12 months of giving notice. Types of ceremony You can have either a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony if you’re getting married. If you’re forming a civil partnership you cannot have a religious ceremony. Religious ceremonies You cannot hold a religious ceremony at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). A religious wedding can take place at any registered religious building. Same-sex couples can get married in a religious building if it has been registered for the marriage of same-sex couples. You cannot get married in an Anglican church as a same-sex couple. An authorised person, such as a religious minister, must attend the ceremony and register the marriage. Check with the venue if there is an authorised person. If not, you’ll need to book a registrar. This costs £86. Civil ceremonies You cannot hold a civil ceremony at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You can have a civil ceremony at: a register office any venue approved by the local council , for example a stately home or hotel You must have at least 2 witnesses at the ceremony. A registrar must carry out, or be present at, your ceremony. You can book a registrar yourself or the venue may do this for you. The cost of a registrar is: £46 at a register office £86 at a registered religious building Costs may be different at other approved premises. What can happen at the ceremony You must exchange vows if you’re getting married. Discuss any other wording you want with the person carrying out the ceremony. You do not need to exchange vows for a civil partnership, but you can if you’d like to. Civil ceremonies can include readings, songs or music, but must not include anything that’s religious (for example hymns or readings from the Bible or the Torah). You can get a religious blessing of your marriage after a civil ceremony.

Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales

Check if you can get married or form a civil partnership

You cannot get married or register a civil partnership at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). If you’ve already booked a civil ceremony, contact the register office. This page will be updated when the situation changes.

Who can legally get married or form a civil partnership

You can get married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales if you’re:

16 or over
not already married or in a civil partnership
not closely related

Same sex couples can convert a civil partnership into a marriage in England or Wales.

There are different rules if you want to get married or form a civil partnership:

If you’re under 18

You need permission from your parents or guardians to get married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales.

If you or your partner is a foreign national

There will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens currently living in the UK until 30 June 2021. You and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.

You must apply for a visa to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK if you:

are from outside the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
are not a British citizen
do not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

The visa or permit you need depends on where your partner is from and whether you want to live in the UK after your ceremony.

You can apply for:

a marriage visitor visa - if you’re not going to live in the UK and will stay less than 6 months
a family visa - if you want to live permanently in the UK and your partner is a British citizen, settled in the UK, has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
a family permit - if your partner is not a British citizen but from an EU, EEA country or Switzerland

If you do not have a marriage visitor visa or family visa

You can still give notice of your intention to get married or form a civil partnership but the immigration authorities at the Home Office will be told.

The Home Office might:

ask questions about you and your relationship - if this happens you may need to wait up to 70 days before getting married or forming a civil partnership
decide not to approve your notice - if this happens you cannot get married or form a civil partnership in the UK

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Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales

Check if you can get married or form a civil partnership

Who can legally get married or form a civil partnership

If you’re under 18

If you or your partner is a foreign national

If you do not have a marriage visitor visa or family visa

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Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales

Check if you can get married or form a civil partnership

Who can legally get married or form a civil partnership

If you’re under 18

If you or your partner is a foreign national

If you do not have a marriage visitor visa or family visa

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