Weddings
Marriage in a Church
If you are planning to marry in a Church of England
church (and generally you will only be able to do
so if you live in the parish of that church) you must
first discuss your marriage with the vicar.
If he or she is able to marry you they will be able
to advise on the necessary legal requirements,
the ceremony, timescales and the requirement for
publishing Banns of the marriage, or for the issue
of a Common Licence. There is not usually any
need to involve the Superintendent Registrars.
If you are planning to marry in any other church
or religious building, you will need to give notice
at the Register Office in the registration district in
which you live, very much in the same way as you
would if you were to be married in the Register
Office or at an Approved Venue.
If you wish to be married in a church in a different
district to where you live one of you must worship
there. The Register Office will be able to advise
you. Some churches require the presence of a
Registrar at the wedding; others have their own
Registrar (or Authorised Person). If you think you
will need a Registrar at your wedding you will need
to give us as much notice as possible to avoid
being disappointed.
Marriages Abroad
Changes to Your Passport
A Superintendent Registrar may accept notice for a
marriage to take place in a foreign country between a
British subject and either a foreign subject or another
British subject.
There are so many things to organise when
you are getting married, if you are changing
your name you may need to change your
passport as well.
They may be able to issue a certificate, which can be
produced to help the procedure abroad.
Check with your travel agent or the countries
consulate if you are traveling abroad for your
honeymoon. You can change your passport
details at any time up to three months before
the wedding, although you will not be able to
use it, until your wedding date.
However, the rules vary and you should consult the
Superintendent Registrar about a marriage to be
solemnized in a foreign country under local law.
Sometimes it is possible for a record of the marriage to
be made under the Foreign Marriage Order 1970, but
For further information, contact
this is not always the case and you should consult the
www.direct.gov.uk
Superintendent Registrar for more details.
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