Are those wedding bells sounding in the cool British air? If so, congratulations! For many expats in the United Kingdom, getting married is a thrilling event to look forward to — and I should know, as I married my partner in London this February.
However, marriage isn’t just a personal or spiritual experience. It’s also a legal one, and this is where it becomes important to understand British law around marriages, and how to plan your dream UK wedding while ensuring that, once wed, your marriage certificate will be legal and recognized.
Marriage law in the United Kingdom is in many ways more complicated and stricter than in the United States. and there are additional factors to bear in mind if you’re an expat marrying a UK citizen or permanent resident.
Step 1: Giving notice
If you and your partner are looking to get married in the UK, you’ll need to make an appointment to give notice of intent to marry. The specifics of this process vary somewhat from local council to local council, so you’ll need to check with your council’s website — see an example here for the London Borough of Southwark, and their instructions on giving notice.
You will generally need to give notice at least 30 days, but no more than one year, before you intend to marry, and in order to give notice, you’ll need to book an appointment at your local registry office. Registrar office appointments can take several weeks to book, so you should look into booking your appointment at least three months in advance of your planned date of marriage.
At this appointment, the registrar will speak to you and your fiance(e) separately, to make sure that you know each other, and neither of you are being coerced into the marriage. Then, you’ll be called in together to finalize the tentative date of your marriage. You will also need to list the location of the legal portion of your wedding on the forms that you and your partner will be filling out.
Now, if you’re an expat on a visa, you’ll need to allow a period of at least 70 days between the date of your appointment and the date of your marriage.
This is because the registry office is obligated to tell the Home Office about your plan to marry. The Home Office then has a period to decide whether or not they want to investigate your marriage to make sure your relationship is legitimate and not coerced, and will inform you either way.
Step 2: The waiting game
Once you’ve had your appointment to give notice, and booked a date for your marriage, you’ll have to “hurry up and wait.” This is especially true if you’re waiting for a letter from the Home Office regarding whether or not they plan to investigate your upcoming marriage. If you’re awaiting a Home Office letter, try not to worry. Even if the Home Office does decide to investigate, you can find guidance from immigration firms and other sources on how to ensure you comply with the investigation and hopefully can proceed to your marriage.
As you wait out your notice period, many couples are busy with wedding planning. Planning a wedding in the UK is, outside of the legal aspects, relatively similar to planning an American wedding, with a few exceptions — in particular, UK wedding venues tend not to be booked as far in advance as US venues, but it never hurts to start early.
Step 3: On the Day
It’s time to get excited – the big day is here! Remember, to legally marry in the United Kingdom, you must be at a licensed wedding venue, with a licensed officiant. Your local registrar is licensed to conduct marriages, as are certain Anglican, Jewish, and Quaker clergy members. Remember, if you’re getting married in a venue that’s outside the council where you live, you will need to give notice in both places, and if you and your partner do not live together, both of your councils will need to be notified.
An important note: Many expats marrying in the UK will not want to book a wedding venue until confirming that the Home Office has given their marriage the go-ahead. Many councils actually recommend this. This is why it’s increasingly popular for expat couples to have a legal marriage at the registry office, followed by a reception and/or religious or spiritual ceremony at a location of their choosing. This also can make choosing a venue for a reception and/or religious ceremony simpler, as you will not have to limit yourself to licensed wedding venues.
The content of your marriage ceremony will vary depending on where it takes place, and there is room for you and your partner to personalize it, but you will both need to swear vows, and sign a marriage certificate alongside at least two witnesses. Be sure to save a copy of your marriage certificate, as it can be pricey to replace!
Step 4: Visa considerations
Depending on your immigration status, getting married may mean a change in your visa status is worth considering. Planned changes to the UK visa system announced in May 2025 state that the time for those on a Skilled Worker Visa to be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR, a status similar to a US Green Card) will be lengthened from five to 10 years. However, dependents of UK citizens, including those on family visas, will retain the five year route.
Once you’re married, if your spouse is a British citizen, you will be eligible to apply for a family visa, provided you meet the income requirements. Whether or not this is a good idea for you is something worth considering in the leadup to your marriage.
Beyond that, though, while UK wedding planning can be stressful, try to enjoy the process, as you look forward to marrying the person you love!
Ellery Weil
Dr. Ellery Weil is a writer and historian based in London. She was born in Washington, DC, raised in Maryland, and attended undergrad in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before moving to the UK to attend grad school at University College London, where she earned her PhD in History. She lives in London with her husband, where you can find her writing, reading, petting dogs in Regent's Park, and exploring the city's antique markets.
