What are the rules and legal requirements for a micro wedding in the UK?

Legal rules for a micro wedding are the same as for any wedding, no matter the guest count. In England and Wales, both partners must give notice in person at their local register office, usually where you have lived for at least seven days. Notice must be given at least 28 full days before the ceremony, and the wedding must happen within 12 months of giving notice. You need two witnesses at the ceremony. The ceremony must take place at a register office, an approved venue, or a religious building registered for marriages. Civil ceremonies cannot include religious content like hymns or prayers, but poems and non-religious readings are fine if the registrar agrees. Since 2021, you sign a marriage schedule on the day, not a register book. In Scotland, you submit a marriage notice at least 29 days before, and weddings can happen almost anywhere agreed with the registrar or celebrant. In Northern Ireland, notice is given at least 28 days before. Humanist ceremonies are legally binding in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not in England and Wales, where you would need a separate civil ceremony. Same-sex couples can marry across the UK, but each religious organisation decides its own policy. For any detail not covered here, such as immigration rules or specific religious requirements, check GOV.UK or your register office.