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To marry in a Church or Religious building you must ensure that your chosen place is licensed for Marriages and that you meet the residential qualifications set out.  Remember that the Notice of Marriage is only valid for the venue stated on it, and if you change your mind a fresh Notice has to be given and paid for.

Religious Marriages are celebrated in the Rites of the denomination to which you belong.  To marry in the Church in Wales or of England Banns will normally be called by the Vicar. In some circumstances a special Archbishop’s Licence will be required, and in a few cases the Minister may ask you to give Notice of Marriage at the Register Office in lieu of Banns;  if this is the case a letter must be obtained from the Minister agreeing to conduct your Wedding Ceremony.

If you are marrying in any other Church or Religious Building, you must give Notice at the Register Office for the District in which you reside. You must then take the Authority to marry obtained from that Office, to the Minister who is going to marry you.

Unlike Civil Marriage you can only marry in the District where one or other of you lives.  You can however marry in a Church outside the District of residence if either of you usually worship in the Building or if there is no building of your religious denomination in your locality.  A letter from the Minister conducting the ceremony is required in either case.

The religious building will generally have an Authorised Person to write the Register, but if this is not the case you must contact the local Register Office to arrange for the attendance of the Registrar as soon as the date and time of the Service is known.  There is a fee for this attendance.