Marriage arrangement and ceremony

The ceremony

A civil marriage ceremony can take place in a register office or other building licensed for marriage ceremonies. The ceremony is conducted by a registration officer and must be of a non-religious nature.

See a list of all approved wedding ceremony venues, including our own Vestry.

The legal formalities

Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or Church in Wales by Banns or Common License (see ‘Religious Marriage Ceremonies’ below), notice of marriage has to be given by each of you personally to your local superintendent registrar(s).

Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least eight days immediately before giving notice at the register office. If you both live in the same district, you will each give notice at the same office. If you live in different registration districts, you will each give notice separately in your own area.

A notice of marriage is valid for twelve months. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar more than twelve months before the date of your wedding.  

A notice of marriage is valid only for the venue named on the notice. Whereas it may be possible to alter the date of your marriage (provided it is before the expiry date), a change of location would require a fresh notice and fee.

After giving notice you must wait a further fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place.

For example, if notice is given on 1 July, the marriage may take place on or after 17 July.  Both authorities must have been issued on or before the day of the marriage.

Documents required by law

When you attend before a superintendent registrar to make formal arrangements, you will need to produce certain documents to confirm your name, age, marital status and nationality. 

Requirements for giving a notice (Word, 50 kb).

Religious marriage ceremonies

If you wish to be married in the Church of England in Tower Hamlets – and generally you will be able to do so only if you or your partner lives in the parish – you should first speak to the vicar.  If the vicar is able to marry you, he or she will arrange for the banns to be called on three Sundays before the day of your ceremony or for a common licence to be issued. The marriage will also be registered by the vicar and there is generally no need to involve the local superintendent registrar.

If you wish to marry by religious ceremony other than in the Church of England or Church in Wales, you should first arrange to see the minister or other person in charge of marriages at that establishment, which must normally be in the registration district where you or your partner lives. It will also be necessary for both of you to give formal notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district(s) where you live. A registrar may also need to be booked.

Abolition of the Certificate of Approval scheme

On April 4, 2011, Parliament approved the Remedial Order that abolished the certificate of approval scheme. This means that the scheme ended on May 9, 2011.

Previously, any migrant already in the UK and subject to immigration control, had to apply for a certificate of approval before they could get married or register a civil partnership in this country (unless they were getting married within the Anglican Church).

The government is now seeking to remedy the declaration by the UK courts that the scheme is incompatible with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (read with Article 12). Additionally, changes made following rulings from the courts have weakened the scheme, and it is no longer an effective method of preventing sham marriage.

Entering into a sham marriage does not entitle migrants to any right to remain in the UK. The UK Border Agency will continue to investigate suspected abuse and, where possible, disrupt marriages before they take place. Marriages that are not genuine, will be challenged and those involved prosecuted where possible.

Do you still need to apply for a certificate of approval if you want to get married or register a civil partnership?

No, the government ended the scheme on May 9. There will be no legal requirement to obtain a certificate of approval after that date.

I want to get married in a civil ceremony and I am subject to immigration control. Will I still need to give notice of my marriage or civil partnership in a designated register office?

Yes. The requirement to give notice in a designated register office is not affected by the abolition of the certificate of approval scheme.

Changes to marriage/civil partnership requirements

Any migrant subject to immigration control wishing to give notice to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK will no longer need:

• a certificate of approval or
• an entry clearance for the purpose of marriage or registering a civil partnership or
• settled status in the UK

Requirements which are unchanged

Migrants who are subject to immigration control will still need to:

• give notice to marry or register a civil partnership in a designated register office. Migrants who wish to give notice at a non-designated register office will need to provide evidence that they are not subject to immigration control.
• meet other existing requirements for giving notice e.g. evidence of nationality, name and surname and date of birth and that they are free to marry. Contact us for more details about these requirements.

Waiting times

When the scheme ends, there may be an increase in demand to give notice to marry or register a civil partnership. Migrants wishing to marry or register a civil partnership should take this into account when seeking to book appointments.

Immigration requirements

Immigration entry requirements for the purpose of marrying or registering a civil partnership in the UK are unchanged by the ending of the certificate of approval scheme.

Any person wishing to come to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership will still need to obtain the correct entry clearance before they travel to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership (or give notice).

Please note:

• Registration officers have a statutory duty to report any marriage they suspect has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading immigration controls
• The minimum legal age for getting married in England and Wales is 16 years but written consent may be required for anyone under 18
• If either partner is subject to immigration control you must give your notices of marriage at a specially designated register office (Tower Hamlets is so designated) and you must attend together and in person – no one else can do it on your behalf.

How to contact us

For further information, please contact the Tower Hamlets Register Office or the General Register Office:

Tower Hamlets Register Office
Bromley Public Hall
Bow Road
London

E3 3AA

Tel: 020 7364 7880
Fax: 020 7364 7885

Email: register.office@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm. Wednesday 9.30-11.30am and 2-4.30pm.           

We do not operate an appointment system so you can attend this office anytime during the opening hours. We do have early morning and late evening appointments for giving Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership and Nationality Checking Service, please call us for further information and to book an appointment.         

Please note: All parties wishing to place Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership need to attend this office by 4pm. NON Tower Hamlets residents must contact us to arrange an appointment. 

Download map to register office (Word, 415k)

For free translation of this information, phone:

Newham translation service: 020 8430 6921
Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm