The Legal Preliminaries to
Marriage

Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or the Church in Wales by Banns or Common Licence, notice of marriage has to be given personally to your local Superintendent Registrar(s).

Notice of marriage must be given by Superintendent Registrars Certificate. Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice at the Register Office. If you both live in the same district, you should both attend your local register office together to give your notices of marriage. If you live in different registrations districts then each of you will need to give notice in your own district. A fee will be charged for giving notice, please ring the Superintendent Registrar for further information.

After giving notice you must wait a further fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place. The notice of marriage is valid for one year.