Is a church wedding the same as a court wedding?

A church wedding takes place in a religious building registered for marriages, often with hymns, prayers and readings chosen by you and the minister. A court wedding, more accurately called a civil ceremony, happens at a register office or an approved venue and cannot include religious content such as hymns, prayers or religious readings. Registrars can allow poems, songs and non-religious readings if they agree.

In England and Wales, a civil ceremony is legally binding on its own. A church wedding is also legally binding if the building is registered for marriages and an authorised person is present. Church of England and Church in Wales weddings usually need banns read, or a licence. In Scotland, weddings can take place almost anywhere agreed with the registrar or celebrant, and religious and belief celebrants, including humanist celebrants, can conduct legal weddings. In Northern Ireland, humanist weddings can be legally binding.

If you choose a religious ceremony that is not legally binding on its own, such as a nikah in England and Wales, many couples add a short civil ceremony to make the marriage legal. Always check with the register office or your place of worship about what is required.