If you would like a religious marriage ceremony, you can get married in:
- an Anglican church (Church of England or Church in Wales)
- any other religious building registered for marriage.
Same sex couples
Marriage
If you are a same sex couple, as the law stands you are unable to be married in an Anglican church.
You can get married in other religious buildings if:
- the religious organisation allows same sex marriage to take place
- the premises have been registered for the marriage of same sex couples.
Civil partnership
It is possible for same sex couples to hold a civil partnership ceremony in a religious building that has been licensed by the local authority.
Anglican church (Church of England or Church in Wales)
If you want to be married in an Anglican church (Church of England or Church in Wales), you should speak to the vicar of the church to arrange your ceremony date and time; they will also be able to advise you of the process and costs involved.
You do not usually need to give notice of marriage at a register office if you are getting married in an Anglican church where you are both British or Irish citizens, or have settled, pre-settled status or a pending application under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
If either of you are not British or Irish citizens, or you do not have settled, pre-settled status or a pending application under the EUSS, you may be subject to immigration control. You will need to give notice of marriage together at a register office in England or Wales in which one of you has resided for the preceding eight nights. You should read the information on legal requirements of marriage and civil partnership for foreign nationals about how to give notice of marriage.
Any other religious building registered for marriage
Examples of other religious buildings include Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and Unitarian churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship that are registered for marriage.
If you want to marry in a religious building, you should first arrange to see the minister or other person in charge of marriages at the building to arrange your ceremony. However, the church or religious building in question must normally be in the registration district where you or your partner live or be your usual place of worship.
Once you have booked your ceremony with them, each of you must give formal notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district(s) where you live. Please contact us to book an appointment and we will also explain the documents you will need to provide.
Some religious buildings have an authorised person who is responsible for registering marriages there. However, if the building where you are marrying does not have an authorised person or that person is not available, you will need to book a registrar to attend and register the marriage instead. If you require a registrar to register your marriage, please contact us as soon as possible to book their attendance.
It costs £86 (changing to £98 from 28 May 2024) for the registrar to attend and register your marriage and certificates are £11 (changing to £12.50 from 28 May 2024) each. Additional certificates can be purchased after the date of your ceremony.
