The legal rules on where you can get married ============================================ Getting married: appproved venues --------------------------------- For a marriage to be legally valid in England and Wales, it must take place in a **registered building** or **approved premises**. This includes the following locations: > - A Register Office > - A church of the Church of England or Church in Wales > - A synagogue, or any private place if both parties are Jewish > - A Meeting House if either party is a member of the Society of Friends (Quaker) or are associated with the Society by attending its meetings > - Any registered religious building (only in England and Wales) > - A building approved by the local authority, such as a stately home or hotel > - The home of either party, if the party is housebound or otherwise detained > - A building where either party is seriously ill and not expected to recover, such as a hospital > - A licensed naval, military or air force chapel Choosing your wedding venue is a deeply personal choice. You may wish to choose somewhere with sentimental significance, a no-frills Register Office, or a grand stately home. However, when making this decision, it is important to consider the legal implications of your dream venue. For example, whether you want a [civil ceremony](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/civil-ceremonies) or [religious ceremony](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/religious-ceremonies) will likely affect the legal requirements of your venue - civil ceremonies are typically held in a Register Office or an approved premise, whilst the location of a religious ceremony will vary from religion to religion, with different legal rules applying to different faiths. It is also important to note that you will need to specify where you are getting married when you [give notice](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/notice-of-marriage). If the venue changes after you have done this, you will need to give new notice. **If you are considering or going through a divorce and are concerned that you did not marry in a registered building, contact Vardags today for a free initial consultation with one of our expert divorce solicitors.** [BOOK FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact "BOOK FREE CONSULTATION") About Us -------- Ayesha VardagFounder & President "A DIVORCE LAWYER WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST" The Metro Vardags offer a unique approach to the law, specially tailored to the needs of HNW individuals. We offer City-quality representation for your divorce and family law needs. Our lawyers come from the very best universities and receive the very best training - they are determined, diligent, and dedicated to getting the best outcome... [read more](https://vardags.com/about-us) [BOOK FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact) Related Guides -------------- [Are overseas marriages legally recognised in England and Wales?](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/overseas-marriages "Are overseas marriages legally recognised in England and Wales?") [Giving notice of marriage](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/notice-of-marriage "Giving notice of marriage") [Legal requirements for civil ceremonies](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/civil-ceremonies "Legal requirements for civil ceremonies") [Legal requirements for religious ceremonies](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/religious-ceremonies "Legal requirements for religious ceremonies") [Non-marriages, void marriages, and voidable marriages](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/non-marriages-void-marriages-voidable-marriages "Non-marriages, void marriages, and voidable marriages") [Proposed reform to marriage law](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/proposed-reform-to-marriage-law "Proposed reform to marriage law") [Who can get married in the UK?](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/who-can-get-married-in-the-uk "Who can get married in the UK?") The information on this website is intended as a guide and does not constitute legal advice. Vardags do not accept liability for any errors in the information on this website, nor any losses stemming from reliance upon the statements made herein. All articles and pages aim to reflect the legal position at time they were published, and may have been rendered obsolete by subsequent developments in the law. Should you require specialist advice, tailored to your situation, please see how Vardags can help you.