How many witnesses do you need at your wedding?

Short answer

You need two witnesses at your wedding in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, witnesses must be aged 16 or over. They sign the marriage schedule or document on the day, along with you and the officiant.

Every legal wedding in the UK requires two witnesses. In England and Wales, they can be anyone you choose, as long as they are present at the ceremony and sign the marriage schedule or document on the day. In Scotland, witnesses must be aged 16 or over. Northern Ireland also requires two witnesses.

Your witnesses do not need to be related to you or hold any special qualification. They just need to be able to understand what is happening and sign their names. Many couples choose their parents, siblings or close friends. You can ask anyone you trust, but make sure they are reliable and will be there on the day.

If you are having a religious ceremony, the place of worship may have its own rules about who can witness, but the legal requirement remains two. If you are having a humanist ceremony in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the celebrant will guide you on the paperwork. In England and Wales, humanist ceremonies are not legally binding on their own, so you would also need a civil ceremony, which will still require two witnesses.