A marriage can take place in England and Wales at a register office, or a building approved for civil marriage, in an Anglican church or in any other religious building that is registered for marriage ceremonies. The General Register Office website has details.
- A religious wedding: speak to your vicar or see the person in charge of marriages. The church must normally be in the registration district in which you, or your partner, live. People of all denominations have a right to be married in their parish church. If you are Church of England and your partner is a Catholic, it doesn’t matter.
If you want to marry in a different church and you are a regular worshipper, then it is usually possible. Otherwise, you would normally be expected to attend services for some time before becoming eligible to be married there. The Church of England in 2007 voted to relax the laws on where couples can get married, giving them new rights to marry in a parish where they have a link [HL]. An engaged couple has to demonstrate one of seven ‘connections’ (such as if you were baptized at the church, confirmed there or previously lived in the area’ or regularly attended the church). More details are on the Church of England website. [HL] - A civil marriage: A civil marriage ceremony can take place in any register office in England or Wales, or at any venue that has been approved to hold a civil marriage (such as stately homes, hotels or restaurants).
In February 2011 the Coalition government announced plans to allow same-sex couples to register civil partnerships in church. Currently there is a ban on civil partnerships taking place in religious settings in England and Wales. Same-sex couples are not allowed to use hymns or Bible readings in civil ceremonies. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/13/civil-partnership-church-wedding-ban.
