Getting married in a church or other religious building

If you are getting married in any religious building you may still have to give notice of marriage to the Register Office in the district where you live.

Church of England

If you are getting married in the Church of England and you have never been through any form of marriage before, you need to contact the vicar of the church to arrange to have your Wedding Banns read. If you have been divorced, please contact the vicar, as he may agree to the wedding and ask you to give your notice of marriage to the register office. Please contact the vicar or register office if you need further advice.

Other churches/religious buildings

If you are getting married in any other religious building, you must still give notice as if you were getting married in a register office for the district where you live. The church or religious building must normally be situated in the district where you or your partner live, unless either of you usually go to worship in that building. You may also get married in another district if there is no building of your religion in the district where you or your partner lives. Please contact the register office if you need further advice.

Fees for registrar

A registrar from the district covering the building must be present at the wedding. Alternatively, the governing body of the religious building can choose someone to register the marriage instead of the registrar.

If the registrar from the local Register Office is required to attend, the fee will be £87.50 (including the marriage certificate).

This page was last updated on 13 March 2012