Perfect Wedding

WHERE TO WED

Not sure where to start? Here are those

all-important ceremony details...

T

he first thing to do is sit

down with your fiancé

and talk openly about the

kind of day you want. The main

ceremony options are:

1

CHURCH OF ENGLANDYo u

may have to attend a number

of Sunday services beforehand.

The marriage can be authorised by

calling banns on three consecutive

Sundays three months before the

day, or by obtaining a common

licence. Church fees are from £415,

with extra costs for choir, organ,

etc. In Scotland, banns aren’t

necessary, but 15 days’ notice must

be given at a register office.

2

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Take your baptism and

confirmation certificates to

your priest at least six months

before if one of you is unbaptised

then the priest needs to give

permission. You may have to

attend marriage preparation talks

and Mass for six weeks before

your wedding day. Visit your local

superintendent registrar to give

notice and obtain your marriage

licence. Fees vary.

3

JEWISHYou’ll need one

application for your local

register office and one for the

religious authorities.

4

CIVIL CEREMONYBook

your slot at a register office

less than 12 months and

more than 17 days in advance.

You must have been resident in

England/Wales for seven days

before visiting your local registrar

to give notice, and the fee is £35

each to give notice. A register office

wedding costs £45. If the ceremony

is held elsewhere, you’ll need to pay

for a registrar to attend.

Baptists’ Union 01235 517 700

Church of England 020 7898 1000

Church of Scotland 0131 225 5722

Greek Archdiocese 020 7723 4787

Humanist

Association 020 7324 3060

Jewish Council 020 8203 6311

Marriage Care

(Catholic) 0800 389 3801

Methodist Church 020 7486 5502

United Reform

Church 020 7916 2020

General Register Offices:

England and Wales 0300 123 1837

Guernsey 01481 725 277

Jersey 01534 441 335

Northern Ireland 0300 200 7890

Scotland 0131 314 4447

Yo u a n d yo u r fi a n c é m u s t b e

at least 16 to be legally married.

In England and Wales, if either

of you is under 18 years of age,

then you must have your parent

or guardian’s permission. In

Scotland you don’t need parental

permission if you are over 18.

Youmustnotbecloselyrelated

to each other and you must both

be free to marry.

The marriage must take

place in legal premises, such

as a register oice, religious

venue or a licensed venue.

The marriage must take place

in the presence of a registrar

or oicial.

Two witnesses must be

present who are old enough to

understand the ceremony.

To download our planning tools, visit planyourperfectwedding.com