The Wedding Zone - From Engagement to Honeymoon
Getting Married? Start Here

Wedding

We all know what a wedding is - The joining together of a man and a woman in (holy) matrimony. Recognised in law as an institution. Getting married.

The dictionary says:

wed verb (wedded or wed, wedding) 1 tr & intr, old use to marry. 2 old use to join someone in marriage. 3 (usually wed one thing to or with another) to unite or combine them • wed firmness with compassion.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon weddian to promise or marry.

wedding noun 1 a marriage ceremony, or the ceremony together with the associated celebrations. 2 in compounds any of the notable anniversaries of a marriage, eg silver wedding.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon weddung.

The Legal Requirements, Documents for Wedding in the UK

No matter where you get married in the UK - Church, Register Office or Chapel you will need to show the following documents:

All - Identity document - Birth certificate, passport or photo driving licence.

If you have been married before - Proof of divorce.

If you are widowed - Your partners death certificate.

If either of you is under eighteen - You need to show a written agreement from your parent(s) or guardian(s).

Before you can marry in a Register Office, Church, Chapel or approved premise in England and Wales, other than a Church of England where you normally have the banns called by the Vicar, both of you must give notice of your intention to marry.

The notice is a legal statement signed by each of the partners. This has to be done individually by both of you in person at the Register Office covering your normal district of residence. A relative or friend can not do this for you.

The notice is to be publicly displayed at the Register Office.

Once you have given notice there must be fifteen clear days elapse before the marriage can take place.

After the fifteen days - An authority must be issued for each person. If you marry outside of the district where you have given notice both of the printed authorities must be collected as these are the legal documents allowing the marriage to take place.

 

Getting Married in a Church or
Other Religious Building.

You can only get married in a church in a different area to where either or both of you live or you usually worship in that particular building or if there is no building that pertains to your religion where you live.

A Registrar from the district must be present at the wedding.