The former procedures for giving notice for marriage by superintendent registrar's certificate and licence and superintendent registrar's certificate without licence are replaced by a common 15 day notice procedure.

This change may affect visitors to England and Wales who have specifically come for the purpose of marriage. This in practice will mean that visitors to England and Wales will need to satisfy the residential qualification of 7 days and then wait a further 15 clear days before they will be eligible to marry.

• You must both have lived in any district in England or Wales for the seven days before the date you give notice of your marriage.

• If you and the person you are marrying live in different districts you must give notice in both districts.

• You can marry in any Register Office, or in the district where you live, but you must give notice of your marriage in the districts in which you live.

But first, you must contact the Superintendent Registrar of the district where you want the marriage to take place.  After you have given notice, you must wait at least 16 days before the marriage can take place.  You can collect the authority for the marriage from the district where notice was given once this waiting period is over.

This authority is the legal document which allows your marriage to proceed.  You must give the authority to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the marriage is to take place.  You must then get married within twelve months of the day you give notice.  A fee will be charged for giving notice. Please telephone any Register Office for details.

Your marriage cannot go ahead unless the legal formalities have been completed.

Notices of marriage must be given in person to the superintendent registrar by you and your partner. No one else can do so on your behalf.

Where an advance booking for a marriage has been made, it is essential that a formal notice is given to the superintendent registrar, once you are legally able to do so.

Registration Officers have a statutory duty to report any marriage they suspect has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls.

There are nationally set fees for giving notice to the superintendent registrar and the registrar's attendance at the marriage at a register office or religious building. However, the fee for the attendance of the superintendent registrar and registrar at a marriage in an approved premises (for example, at a hotel) is set by the local authority. The superintendent registrar of the district where you wish to marry will be able to provide you with details of the fees payable.

On the day of the wedding you will need to bring with you at least two other people who are prepared to witness the marriage and sign the marriage register.

If you wish to know more about marriage ceremonies at register offices or at approved premises please ask the superintendent registrar for details. While a marriage ceremony in the presence of a superintendent registrar cannot, by law, contain any religious aspects, it may be possible, with agreement, to include non-religious music and/or readings and for the wedding to be videoed.

This information is issued for general guidance and is not a complete statement of the law. For further information on any aspect of the formalities to, or the ceremony of marriage, please seek the advice of the superintendent registrar at the local register office. The telephone number and address can be found in your local telephone directory under 'Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.

How far in advance may I make a booking?

A notice of marriage is valid for twelve months. However, you may be able to make an advance (provisional) booking with the superintendent registrar of the district where you wish to marry. The superintendent registrar will be able to give you more precise information on this.