Plan your marriage or civil partnership

If you are planning a marriage or civil partnership, you will need to (in order):

decide where you would like to marry or form your civil partnership
provisionally book a date with your venue
book your registrars for your ceremony
confirm your booking with your venue
give (serve) notice of marriage or civil partnership

Our ceremony guide will help you with everything you need to know to help plan and your perfect day.

Difference between civil marriage and civil partnership

Civil marriage is a verbal contract. You will repeat legal declarations in front of your registrar and witnesses.

Civil partnership is a written contract. You will read a legal declaration before signing your civil partnership schedule. A civil partnership does not legally involve a ceremony but your registrar will be happy to conduct one for you if you so wish.

Choose the type of ceremony

You can choose to 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

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 sign the ‘marriage schedule’ or ‘marriage document’.

Check with the venue if there is an authorised person. If not, you’ll need to book a registrar.

Civil ceremonies

You can have a civil ceremony at:

a register office
any venue approved by us, for example a stately home or hotel

You must:

have at least 2 witnesses at the ceremony
book a registrar for your ceremony

After a marriage ceremony

Your signed marriage schedule or document is sent to us where it’s added to the marriage register. After that, you can get your marriage certificate.