A lot goes into a wedding and getting married, much of which needs to be thought about before the big day. One of the most important steps is giving your notice of marriage, a legal statement that details your intention to marry. There are some time constraints to remember, and specific documents are needed, so knowing as much as possible about the process is key. In this blog, we have covered the ins and outs of giving notice.
Why Do You Need to Give Notice?
Giving notice is a legal requirement if you want to get married, and it’s a chance for both parties to confirm their identity and their right to marry in the UK. It’s also an opportunity for both parties to declare that they are free to get married, meaning that you can marry without parental consent and without already being married to someone else. Your notice of marriage will be displayed at the registry office, allowing anyone to object should they wish to. Unless you give notice you cannot get married.
How Do You Give Notice?
You must give notice at least 29 calendar days before the wedding and the wedding must take place within 12 months of giving notice. You must also live in your registration district for at least seven days before giving notice, and giving notice must be done in person, so it’s usually a good idea to give notice at the registry office local to where you are.
Giving notice costs £35 per person, or £47 if either of you is from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland. You can pay this in advance or at the time of giving notice, and additional fees could be added depending on your circumstances. For example, you’ll need to bring a decree absolute or final order if this is your second marriage, with a foreign divorce for consideration imposing additional costs if they need to be translated.
Before you give notice you need to know where the wedding ceremony is to be held, and your notice is only valid for that venue. If you change the venue you will need to give notice again.
The 4 Simple Steps of Giving Notice
- Step One – Make an appointment at your local registry office. If you live in different places, you will both have to attend your own local office to give notice. You both need to attend together.
- Step Two – Collect all the documentation needed and ensure you can find everything, such as your birth certificate and proof of divorce. After all, you don’t want to arrive and realise a key document is missing. If you were married abroad previously, you might need to get a translated document made.
- Step Three – Attend the appointment, where a Superintendent Registrar will go through everything with you. They will check you are legally able to marry and go through what you are agreeing to by getting married. Your notice of marriage is then displayed for 28 days, giving adequate time for anyone to come forward with an objection.
- Step Four – After the notice period of 28 days, the registrar will confirm that you can marry, and the paperwork will be sent to you.
What Documents Do You Need to Give Notice?
To give notice, you must have various documents with you, including evidence of your name, nationality and date of birth. You also need to show evidence of any previous marriages or civil partnerships. You need to provide the original, hard copies of these documents; photocopies will not be accepted. The government website has a full list of what documents can be used as proof.
Another key aspect of planning a wedding is choosing your venue, and you certainly won’t be short of choice in the Forest of Dean. As The Wyndham is owned and run by the wonderful Clearwell Castle Wedding Venue part of the Country House Weddings portfolio of wedding venues, we are often couples’ first choice for private dining and wedding events. Get in touch to find out more.
