Religious ceremonies

In an Anglican Church

If you wish to be married in the Church of England or Church in Wales - you will be able to do so only if you or the other party live in the parish. You should first speak to the vicar. If he agrees to marry you he will arrange for the Banns to be called on three Sundays before the day of your ceremony or for a common licence to be issued.

There is usually no need to involve the local superintendent registrar.

For more information, see the Church of England website.

A religious ceremony other than in the Church of England

If you wish to marry by religious ceremony other than in the Church of England, you should first arrange to see the person in charge of marriages at the building. However, the church or religious building in question must normally be in the registration district in which you or the other party live.

It will also be necessary for both of you to give formal notice of your marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district(s) where you live. A registrar may also need to be booked from the register office in the district where the marriage is to take place in order to register the marriage.

For a religious marriage, other than in the Church of England, civil preliminaries must be completed. Please follow the guidance given under Civil Marriage on how and where to give notice, the residential qualifications and the documentation required.