How quickly can you get married in the UK?

Short answer

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can marry 28 full days after giving notice. In Scotland, it is 29 days. If you need a visa or are subject to immigration control, it can take longer. Plan at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead to be safe.

The legal minimum wait is 28 full days after giving notice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 29 days in Scotland. That means if you give notice today, the earliest you can marry is 28 or 29 days from then. However, you also need to factor in finding a venue, a registrar and any other arrangements, so in practice most couples plan several weeks or months ahead.

In England and Wales, you give notice at your local register office, usually where you have lived for at least the last 7 days. Your notice is valid for 12 months, so you can give notice well in advance and then marry within that year. In Scotland, registrars advise giving notice 10 to 12 weeks before the wedding, even though the legal minimum is 29 days. In Northern Ireland, you give notice to the registrar in the district where the wedding will take place.

If either of you is subject to immigration control, the notice period can be longer, so check with the register office early. For religious weddings, the timing depends on the place of worship. Church of England and Church in Wales weddings usually need banns read, which takes at least three Sundays. The rules can change, so always confirm current requirements on GOV.UK or with your registrar.