Registry office weddings: cost, booking and what happens on the day
A registry office wedding can be the simplest way to get married, and the cheapest. The catch is that the lowest price usually means a small room and a set weekday, and the other rooms cost much more. Here's what it really costs, how to book the slot you want and what to expect on the day.
In England and Wales, the cheapest registry office wedding costs £167.50 in total: £93 to give notice, £62 for the ceremony and £12.50 for a certificate. That slot is usually for the two of you and two witnesses, on set weekdays. Ceremony rooms with guests cost from about £175 on a weekday to more than £600 on a Saturday. Book with your council first, then give notice at least 29 days before.
How much is a registry office wedding?
The ceremony is only one part of the bill. Whichever room you choose, you each pay to give notice, and you'll want a marriage certificate. This is the legal minimum in England and Wales:
| Fee | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Giving notice | £46.50 each (£93 for a couple) | Each of you pays this at your notice appointment. It's £63 each if your notice is referred to the Home Office. |
| The simplest ceremony | £62 | A national fee, from April 2026. Many councils offer it only on set days or in their smallest room. |
| Marriage certificate | £12.50 | Per copy. Some councils include one or two in the price of a larger room. |
| Legal minimum | £167.50 | With one certificate. |
A few smaller costs can catch you out. Some councils add a non-refundable booking fee, such as £50 in County Durham and £55 in St Helens, so ask whether it applies to the slot you want. A Saturday notice appointment can cost more too: it's £61.50 each in Nottinghamshire.
Register office or registry office? They're the same place. Register office is the official name, which is why GOV.UK and councils use it. Registry office is what most people call it.
Registry office wedding prices at five councils
Above the £62 ceremony, each council sets its own prices, and they vary a lot. Here are five councils' ceremony prices for 2026 to 2027, to show the range.
| Council | Simplest ceremony | Ceremony room, weekday | Ceremony room, Saturday | Approved venue, Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | £62, Wednesdays at Worksop | £175, set mornings | From £385 | £575 |
| County Durham | £74.50 with a certificate, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings | £195, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10.30am | £450 | £655 |
| St Helens | £62, Wednesdays at 9.30am | £200, Mondays and Tuesdays at 10am | £450 | £630 |
| Oxfordshire | £62, Tuesdays only | £433 | £548 | £820 |
| Dorset | £62, weekdays at Dorchester | From £580 | From £630 | £729 |
Prices from council websites, checked on 2 November 2026. Most don't include certificates, and none include your notice fees. Approved venue prices cover the registrars, not the venue's own hire charge. Your council's website has its current prices.
Who can come, and who you need
You need two witnesses. They must be at least 16 and able to speak and understand English. Bring your own, as Westminster, for one, says its staff can't act as witnesses or find them for you.
Guest numbers depend on the room. The simplest ceremony is often for the two of you and your witnesses only, as it is in St Helens and Bath. Rooms then get bigger as the price goes up: in St Helens, the next room up holds 8 people and the largest holds 165. Limits are often set by fire regulations and, as East Sussex explains, they count everyone, including children, babies and your photographer.
How to book a registry office wedding
Book the ceremony before you give notice, because the notice has to name where you're getting married. Surrey, for example, lets you book up to two years ahead and asks you to book your notice appointment after that, while Cheshire West and Chester usually takes register office bookings up to 12 months ahead.
Choose your register office
It doesn't have to be the nearest one. You can marry at a register office in another area, though you still give notice at your local office.
Compare its rooms and days
Look for the ceremony fees page on the council's website. The £62 ceremony can go by different names, such as "statutory", "basic" or "you plus two", so ask for it if you can't see it.
Book your date
Many councils open bookings about 12 months ahead, and some up to two years. Some ask for a booking fee, and others take full payment at booking, so check when the balance is due.
Give notice
Each of you gives notice at your local register office, at least 29 days before the wedding and within the 12 months before it. The notice of marriage guide covers what to bring.
Ask your two witnesses
They need to be at least 16 and able to speak and understand English.
Order your certificate
Some councils, such as Nottinghamshire, let you order it when you pay for the ceremony. Haringey suggests ordering two.
If either of you is from outside the UK or Ireland, allow longer. You may have to give notice together, and if the Home Office asks questions about your relationship, you could wait up to 70 days to marry. Read more in the notice guide.
What you can include in the ceremony
A marriage has to include an exchange of vows. GOV.UK says a civil ceremony can also include readings, songs or music, but nothing religious, such as hymns or readings from the Bible or Torah. If you'd like a religious blessing, you can have one after the ceremony.
How much you can add depends on your slot. The simplest ceremony is often just the legal words, with no additions in Bath or St Helens, for example. Ceremony rooms give you more choice. East Sussex, for example, allows one reading of around 300 words, music as you enter, sign and leave, and personal vows alongside the legal ones.
What happens on the day
The running order is much the same everywhere, though timings vary by council.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15 to 20 minutes before | A registrar sees you in private to check your details, sometimes one at a time. Westminster warns that arriving late could mean your ceremony is postponed. |
| The ceremony | A standard ceremony takes about 25 to 30 minutes, and the simplest one is shorter. You repeat the legal words after the registrar, so there's nothing to learn by heart. |
| Signing | You, your witnesses and the registrar sign the marriage schedule. Up to 4 parents can be named on it, such as mothers, fathers or step-parents. |
| Afterwards | The signed schedule goes to the register office and is added to the register. You can get your marriage certificate after that, so ask your council how long it takes. |
Ask about photographs and confetti before the day, as the rules differ. East Sussex allows photos and video throughout the ceremony but no confetti at its register offices, while Bath doesn't allow a photographer during the ceremony unless they're one of your witnesses.
Register office or approved venue?
You're just as legally married either way. The difference is the room, the price and how much of the day it covers.
Register office
- The lowest price, from £62 for the simplest ceremony.
- The council's rooms, on the days and times it offers.
- No venue to hire, but you'll need somewhere else for any celebration.
Approved venue
- A place approved by the council, such as a hotel or stately home.
- You pay for the registrars (£575 to £820 on a Saturday in the table above) as well as the venue.
- Book the registrars as well as the venue. You can do this yourself, or the venue may do it.
It doesn't have to be one or the other. Some couples do the legal part at the register office on a quiet weekday, then have a party or a celebrant-led ceremony later, on another day if they like.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The rules and prices are different in the rest of the UK, and you give notice to the registrar where you're marrying rather than where you live.
Scotland
- Registrars' fees come to £155 for the simplest ceremony: £45 per notice, £55 for the ceremony and £10 for a certificate.
- Councils add their own charges. Renfrewshire comes to £231 with guests at its marriage suite on a Thursday or Friday, or £354 on a Saturday.
- National Records of Scotland consulted on new fees in 2026, so check the current prices with your registrar.
Northern Ireland
- £22 per notice form, plus the registrar's fee: £36 on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, or £162 or £216 at other times.
- Using a room at the registrar's office costs extra, so ask your council.
- You need two witnesses aged 16 or over, and nothing religious can be included. Details on NI Direct.
Common questions
How much is a registry office wedding?
In England and Wales, the legal minimum is £167.50: £46.50 each to give notice, £62 for the ceremony and £12.50 for a certificate. Ceremony rooms with guests cost more, from about £175 on a weekday to more than £600 on a Saturday, depending on your council.
Is it a register office or a registry office?
Both mean the same place. Register office is the official name, and registry office is the one most people use.
How many guests can you have at a registry office wedding?
It depends on the room. The £62 ceremony is often for the two of you and two witnesses only. Other rooms hold anything from 8 people to more than 100, so check when you book. Room limits usually count everyone, including children and your photographer.
Do you need witnesses at a registry office wedding?
Yes, two. They must be at least 16 and able to speak and understand English. Bring your own, as councils such as Westminster say their staff can't act as witnesses or find them for you.
How long does a registry office wedding take?
A standard ceremony takes about 25 to 30 minutes, and the simplest one is shorter. Allow another 15 to 20 minutes beforehand, as a registrar checks your details in private before you start.
How far in advance can you book a registry office wedding?
Often up to 12 months, though some councils, such as Surrey, let you book up to two years ahead. You then give notice at least 29 days before the wedding, and within the 12 months before it.
How quickly can you get married at a registry office?
In England and Wales, the earliest is 29 days after you give notice, if your council has a free slot. If either of you is from outside the UK or Ireland, it can take up to 70 days.
Can you have readings and music at a registry office wedding?
Yes, in most ceremony rooms, as long as nothing is religious. Hymns and readings from the Bible or Torah aren't allowed. The cheapest ceremony often has no additions, so check what your slot includes.
