Skip to main content
 

Giving notice

Information updated 21 September 2022

Notice of Marriage

  • A notice of marriage or civil partnership is a legal statement which you must declare and sign before a superintendent registrar. If you plan to be married in the Church of England, you should see your local vicar who will arrange for the Banns of Marriage to be published
  • A notice states the name, date of birth, sex, marital status, address, occupation and nationality of the people involved. It also states the intended venue for the ceremony. Proof of immigration status is also needed in some cases
  • You will be advised of the documents you need to provide at the time you make your appointment. It is very important that you read any confirmation literature carefully as only the specified documents can be accepted
  • The earliest date you can give notice is 12 months in advance of your ceremony date. We recommend doing it about 4 to 6 months before in case there are any issues with you obtaining the evidence required
  • Notices are displayed on the public notice boards of the registration district where you live. After 28 days (or in some cases 70 days if one or both parties is a foreign national) the marriage or civil partnership schedule is issued in the district office where the ceremony is taking place. Your ceremony cannot take place without them
  • The schedule is only valid for use in the venue stated, so it's vital that you're certain of the place in which you plan to be married or form a civil partnership at the time of giving notice. If you need to change the venue after giving notice, you will be required to give fresh notices stating the new venue and pay another fee. A notice of marriage or civil partnership is valid for 12 months only
  • A superintendent registrar and registrar for a civil venue, or an authorised person or a registrar for a non-conformist church need to be present at all marriages and civil partnerships. It is therefore important you make sure the registrar or authorised person is available before you state the venue where your ceremony will take place at your notice appointment
  • If you are not able to visit the registration office to give notice because of a long term health issue or cannot give the required 28 days notice due to a terminal diagnosis, please contact us for further advice

Notice fees

  • The fee is £35 each for British, Irish, EU Nationals with EUSS settled, pre-settled or pending status and also for foreign nationals with right of abode, those with military or diplomatic exemption, those with ILR or ILE and those with the appropriate marriage or fiancé/e visa
  • The fee is £47 each for foreign national without the required immigration status and their partner (whether they are British or not)

Where to give notice

If you are both a British, Irish or EU National with EUSS settled, pre-settled or pending status or are a foreign national with right of abode or have military or diplomatic exemption:

  • You will each give notice in the registration district where you reside
  • If you live in Blackpool (and the residence's owner pays their Council Tax to Blackpool Council) you need to make an appointment at:
    • The Wedding Chapel, People's Promenade, Blackpool FY1 1AP
    • Appointments are Tuesday to Thursday
    • To make an appointment telephone us on 01253 477177 or email us on ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk
  • If you reside outside of Blackpool (but within England and Wales), use this search facility to find your local registration service.

If one or both of you are an EU National without EUSS settled, pre-settled or pending status or are a foreign national who holds ILR or ILE, has the appropriate marriage or fiancé/e visa or is subject to other immigration control:

  • You will each give notice in a 'specified office' in the registration district where either party resides, however the parties must attend together
  • All registration offices are now 'specified offices'  
  • If one of you lives in Blackpool (and the residence's owner pays their Council Tax to Blackpool Council) you can make an appointment at:
    • The Wedding Chapel, People's Promenade, Blackpool. FY1 1AP
    • Appointments are Tuesday to Thursday
    • To make an appointment telephone us on 01253 477177 or email us on ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk
  • You can also choose to attend together in the registration district where the other party lives. Use this search facility to find your local registration service

Coming to The Wedding Chapel to give notice

  • The Wedding Chapel is open for pre-booked appointments only. To book please ring 01253 477177 or email ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk. We are closed for casual “walk-ins”
  • If you have a pre-booked appointment please arrive no more than 5 minutes early and wait on the landing on the first floor
  • Your certificate for marriage is normally valid for 12 months, expiring 1 year to the day that you had your notice appoitment
  • During busy periods we sometimes cannot offer appointments for 4 weeks
  • Although no longer mandatory we ask that face coverings are worn, that hand sanitiser stations are used and social distancing is maintained to protect our staff
  • If your marriage or civil partnership ceremony has been postponed and your legal notice has expired, you will need to give a new notice and attend in person again

Increased enquiries to our office have settled somewhat. If you can't get through on our telephone phone number 01253 477177 it may be because our staff are dealing with customers in person. If you email ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk and provide your phone number along with details of your enquiry and someone will call you back as soon as they are able to.