Planning a wedding in the UK
How to Give Notice of Marriage in England and Wales
7 November 2026
To give notice of marriage in England and Wales, you sign a legal statement at your local register office saying you intend to marry, at least 29 days before the ceremony. You usually book an appointment, bring original documents and give the details of your final venue. Here's how to give notice of marriage in England and Wales without any last-minute surprises.
Quick answer: Book an appointment at the register office for the district where you've lived for the past 7 days, bring your original ID, proof of address and venue details, and give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony. The ceremony must then take place within 12 months.
Key Takeaways
Give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony, and hold the ceremony within 12 months of giving notice.
You give notice where you live, and you must have lived in that registration district for the past 7 days.
Book your ceremony venue first, because your notice must include the final venue.
Bring originals, not copies: ID, proof of address, venue details and proof of any name change.
If one of you is from outside the UK, different rules can apply, including giving notice together.
What giving notice of marriage means
Giving notice is the legal first step for every civil marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales. You sign a statement at your local register office saying you intend to marry, and the clock then starts on the 29-day notice period.
The rule is simple to count. If you give notice on 1 May, the earliest date you can marry is 30 May. If you're still choosing between dates, our wedding planning timeline shows where this step fits.
Where and when to give notice
You usually need an appointment at your local register office, and you must have lived in that registration district for the past 7 days. Appointments can book up, so it's worth calling well before the date you have in mind.
If you and your partner live in different registration districts, you each give notice at your own office. You don't have to do it on the same day.
Choose your venue first
Your notice has to include details of the final venue for the ceremony, and the ceremony must take place within 12 months of giving notice. That's why most couples book the venue before they book the register office. Our questions to ask a wedding venue will help you get the booking right first time.
Anglican weddings can work differently
The process of giving notice might be different for a Church of England or Church in Wales wedding. Check with the church or venue before you book anything at the register office.
Documents to bring when you give notice
You must bring originals of the following to your appointment:
Details of the final venue for your ceremony.
Proof of your home address.
Proof of any name change, for example a deed poll.
A valid passport or a UK birth certificate.
If you bring a UK birth certificate and you were born after 1 January 1983, you'll also need evidence of your parents' nationalities, such as their birth certificates.
What counts as proof of address
Document | How recent it must be |
|---|---|
Valid UK or Irish driving licence | Valid |
Gas, water or electricity bill | From the last 3 months |
Bank or building society statement | From the last month |
Council Tax bill | From the last 12 months |
Mortgage statement | From the last 12 months |
Tenancy agreement | Current |
Letter from your landlord confirming you live there | Dated within the last 7 days |
A landlord's letter must include their name, address and signature. If your normal address is outside the UK, you'll need to give a UK contact address, such as a partner's, friend's or family member's.
If you've been married or in a civil partnership before
Bring a decree absolute or final order, or your former partner's death certificate. If your divorce, annulment or dissolution was granted outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, there's an extra fee for the register office or the General Register Office to check your documents.
If one of you is from outside the UK
You may need to give notice together, at a register office in the district where at least one of you lives. This doesn't apply if you both have British or Irish citizenship, or settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
You'll also need a passport-sized photo for each of you, proof of your current immigration status and a translation of any document that isn't in English. Depending on your situation, you may need a visa to give notice or marry in the UK.
If the Home Office is told about your notice, it might ask questions about you and your relationship. In that case you may need to wait up to 70 days before the ceremony, so leave plenty of time.
After you've given notice
Once the notice period has passed you can go ahead with the ceremony you've planned. If you're still deciding on the type of ceremony, our guide to civil and religious ceremonies explains the difference.
It's also a good moment to think about the paperwork that comes after the day. If you plan to take a new surname, our guide to changing your name after marriage covers your passport and other records.
Frequently asked questions
How long before the wedding do we need to give notice?
At least 29 days before the ceremony. For example, notice given on 1 May means the earliest date you can marry is 30 May. The ceremony must take place within 12 months of giving notice.
Do we have to give notice together?
Not always. If you live in different registration districts, you each give notice at your own office, and not necessarily on the same day. If one of you is from outside the UK, you may need to give notice together.
Can we give notice before we've booked a venue?
Your notice must include details of the final venue for your ceremony, so book the venue first.
What if we're getting married in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
The rules are different there. Check mygov.scot for Scotland or nidirect for Northern Ireland before you plan your dates.
Your next step
Book your register office appointment as soon as your venue is confirmed, and gather your original documents in one folder. For the whole legal process in one place, read our legal steps to getting married.
The official rules are set out on GOV.UK's marriage and civil partnership guide, so check it for any recent changes before your appointment.