Getting married
Your wedding should be one of the most wonderful days of your life, but there is a lot to do before the big day arrives. Here is some useful advice and information to help you plan your dream wedding.
Civil ceremony
A "civil ceremony” is a wedding not taking place in a church. A great variety of locations are now authorised venues for civil marriages and partnerships – from register offices and hotels to stately homes and beaches.
Religious ceremony
The following links provide details on a range of religious ceremonies. Be aware that unless you are having a Church of England service, you will need to follow the same legal requirements as for a civil ceremony.
Legal requirements
Whether you choose a civil or a religious ceremony, there are certain legal requirements that you must fulfil before you can get married. For a civil ceremony, you will need to give notice at a register office and collect a Certificate of Authority to Get Married. For a Church of England ceremony you will need to have a publication of banns. Visit the websites below for a full outline of the legal requirements.
Wedding planning
Once the legal groundwork is out of the way, you can get on with planning your special day. There are many excellent websites to help you. Start by looking at what’s on offer on the websites below.
Renewal of vows
This ceremony is available to married couples as a way of celebrating their marriage and marking a commitment to their future. Although this is not a legal ceremony, it can be carried out by a registrar either in a register office or an approved venue. If you would prefer a religious ceremony, talk to the head of your local place of worship, as many now provide this service.
Overseas wedding
If planning your wedding sounds too much like hard work, maybe you would prefer to get away from it all and get married abroad. Many travel companies now offer packages that include all the wedding arrangements and legal details so you can just turn up and get married.
