If you wish to marry in England or Wales, you may do so either by civil or religious ceremony.
Civil ceremonies
A civil ceremony can take place at a register office or other building licensed for marriage ceremonies. Since 1 April 1995, the Marriage Act 1994 has allowed suitable privately owned premises to be licensed for marriage ceremonies, offering a vast choice of type, location and cost. You may marry at any approved premises in England or Wales.
To book a marriage in a licensed building, contact the proprietor of the venue to find out about availability. You will then need to contact the register office in the district of the venue to check on availability and book registration officers to conduct the ceremony.
In Lewisham we currently have five approved premises.
Religious ceremonies
If you wish to be married in a church, chapel or other building of religious worship, you or your partner would generally have to live within the parish of the church or be a regular worshipper. The service will usually be conducted by the minister of the venue, but occasionally a registrar may be required. The minister will then arrange for the Banns to be called or for a Common Licence to be issued.
To book a marriage at a place of worship contact the minister of the church and the local superintendent registrar, if necessary.
The above information is a general guide only. For marriages outside England or Wales, or marriages of people with special needs or requirements, contact the superintendent registrar for advice.
The legal formalities
Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or Church in Wales by Banns or Common Licence, notice of marriage has to be given by each of you personally to your local superintendent registrar.
Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice at the register office. If you both live in the same district, you should each give notice at the same office. If you live in different registration districts, you should each give notice separately in your own area.
A notice of marriage is valid for 12 months. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar more than 12 months before the date of your wedding.
A notice of marriage is valid only for the venue named on the notice. Whereas it may be possible to alter the date of your marriage (provided it is before the expiry date), a change of location would require a fresh notice and fee.
After giving notice you must wait a further 15 clear days before the authority is issued and the marriage can take place. For example, if notice is given on 1 July, the marriage may take place on or after 17 July.
Both authorities must have been issued on or before the day of the marriage.
Marriage certificates
The marriage will be authorised by a superintendent registrar's certificate. We can supply copy marriage certificates for most marriages that occur in the Lewisham district.
Notice of marriage
If you are a British citizen, a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or you have a certificate of entitlement giving you right of abode in the UK in your passport, make an appointment to give notice of intent to marry at the register office in the district where you live.
If you are a person who is subject to immigration control, you will need to apply to the Home Office for a Certificate of Approval before giving your notice of intent to marry at Lewisham register office or any other designated register office.
Documents required by law
When you attend before a superintendent registrar to make formal arrangements for your marriage, you will need to produce certain documents to confirm your name, age, marital status and nationality.
Preferred documents are:
- a current valid full passport (or, where appropriate, a Home Office Travel Document, a Standard Home Office Acknowledgement letter, or a national identity card) or, if unavailable
- a birth certificate and a second current document such as a credit card or driving licence
- you will also need to show proof of your address e.g. a council tax bill or a utility bill
- if you have been widowed, the death certificate of your former spouse and possibly the marriage certificate
- if you are divorced, a decree absolute bearing the court's original stamp
- if you have changed your name, Deed Poll documents
- if you are under 18 years of age, a completed parental consent form.
Cost
You will each be charged a fee of £30 when you give notice. In addition:
- a marriage at the register office will cost £40.00 and is payable on the day
- a marriage at approved premises will incur a fee to the proprietor of the premises and a fee for the attendance of the registration officers, which is variable depending on the day on which the ceremony takes place
- a marriage at a place of religious worship will incur a fee to the minister of the building and a fee of £47 if a registrar is required to register the marriage
- a marriage at a Church of England or Church in Wales does not generally involve the register office.
All fees are subject to annual review.
Who is eligible
Anyone who is legally free to marry.
How to access the service
For civil ceremonies telephone the register office on 020 8690 2128 to discuss your requirements or make an appointment for an interview or just call in (see below). For religious ceremonies contact the minister of the church.
Accessibility
Leaflets are available in large print on request. Portable hearing loops are available for interviews and marriages. Disabled car parking spaces are available in the register office car park.