Anglican (Church of England or Church in Wales) Marriage

The church or chapel where you can marry will depend on your individual circumstances, although it is typically a place local to you. You can find further guidance on the official Church of England or Church of Wales websites.

Once you have chosen your church, you will need to contact the resident religious official – such as a Vicar or Bishop – who will arrange your ceremony and explain the legal requirements.

The religious official will read your banns, which are the public notices of your intention to marry. These are usually announced during church services on three separate Sundays before your wedding. The banns must be read in the parish church where each of you lives, as well as in the church where you plan to marry, if these are different. This process ensures that your marriage is publicly declared and that there are no legal reasons preventing it.

Please note that giving notice of marriage at your local Register Office is not usually required unless the religious official advises you to do so. This is most likely to apply if one or both partners are subject to immigration control.

The church will prepare a Marriage Document, which you, your witnesses and the person conducting your ceremony will sign on the day. It is very important that you check all the details carefully before signing, as any amendments made afterwards require official authorisation and incur a £99 fee. Some changes can be made by hand before signing, so please a moment to read the document thoroughly.

After your ceremony, the church will forward the signed Marriage Document to the local Register Office. The information will then be added to the online register and certificates can be produced. Please note that marriage certificates are not issued automatically, you will need to order and pay for them here, either in advance or after your ceremony.

Same-sex marriage

For same-sex couples, even with the introduction of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, religious freedom means that each religious organisation can decide whether to conduct same-sex marriages. You will therefore need to check that the religious organisation permits same-sex marriages and that the building is formally registered for them.