The following conditions apply:
You must both have lived within England and Wales for at least seven days before giving the notice.
From the date on which notice is given, a further 15 days must elapse before the wedding can take place.
Documents will need to be produced on giving notice and a statutory fee is payable. You should contact your local register office for information on what to bring with you when giving notice.
What happens next?
Once notice has been given, a copy of it will be displayed on the notice board in the register office for a period of 15 days. You can not marry until this time has elapsed. Once this waiting period is over, the register office where you gave notice will issue the authorities which allows the marriage to go ahead. If you have given notice outside of Havering, you will need to collect this certificate from your local office and bring it to Langtons House if you are marrying here, before the date of the marriage.
What documents should I bring with me?
When you or your partner come to give notice of your marriage, the registrar will require you to produce certain documents. The following is only a brief guide and more details can be obtained by contacting the register office.
- You must provide proof of identity, ideally a passport, full birth certificate or photographic full UK driving licence.
- If applicable, proof of your divorce - final divorce document (decree absolute) . A translation must be provided if this is not in English.
- If either of you are widowed - your late partner's death certificate.
- If either of you are under 18 - completed consent forms from your parents or guardian agreeing to the marriage.
Marriages in Religious buildings
Church of England
Normally, banns are read out at church services which takes away the need to give a notice to a Superintend ant Registrar. However, if you choose not to have the banns read, you can still give notice to a Superintendent Registrar. For Church of England weddings always seek advice from the church first.
Other Denominations
Before your marriage can go ahead, you will have to give notice as described earlier in this booklet. Normally, you can only marry in a place of worship that is within the registration district(s) where you both live. However, it is possible to marry outside your district(s) if the place of worship is one that you regularly attend or, there is no representation of your faith in your area.
Some places of worship have an 'appointed person' to register the marriage. If you find this is not the case, you will have to ask the Register Office to provide a registrar on the day of your wedding.
What happens next?
Once notice has been given, a copy of it will be displayed on the notice board in the register office for a period of 15 days. You can not marry until this time has elapsed. Once this waiting period is over, the register office where you gave notice will issue the certificate which allows the marriage to go ahead. If you have given notice outside of Havering, you will need to collect this certificate from your local office and bring it to Langtons House (if you are marrying at Langtons before the date of the marriage.
Ceremony Rehearsal Service
During the thirty minute rehearsal, a registrar will guide you through the ceremony and explain what will happen on the actual day, helping to calm nerves so that you are well prepared and can enjoy your special day to the fullest. Where possible, we will try to ensure that the registrar who will be performing your ceremony also performs the rehearsal.
The rehearsal costs just £36.00 and can be arranged by telephoning 01708 433403/01708 433523 or emailing us on ceremonies@havering.gov.uk