Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK

1. Overview
2. What you need to do
3. Giving notice at your local register office

4. Documents to take to the register office
5. Religious ceremonies
6. Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies

1. Overview

You can get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK if you’re:

• 16 or over
• free to marry, or form a civil partnership (single, divorced or widowed)
• not closely related

You need permission from your parents or guardians if you’re under 18.

You don’t need parental permission if you’re under 18 to get married in Scotland.

From 29 March 2014, same sex couples can get married in England and Wales. You can only get a civil partnership as a same sex couple.