In the UK, opposite-sex couples can marry in a civil or religious ceremony. Same-sex couples can get married in a civil ceremony. Same-sex couples can only marry in a religious ceremony if the religious organisation has agreed to carry out same-sex weddings.
Civil marriages
In Scotland the couple wishing to have a civil marriage ceremony must give notice of their marriage to the district registrar in the area in which they are intending to marry before it can proceed. You must give no more than 3 months’ and no less than 28 days’ notice before you intend to marry. Proof of name, age, nationality and address will be required in order to be able to effectively submit notice. In the case of parties who are divorced or widowed, proof of divorce or death certificate are needed.
This notice of intention to marry will be publicly displayed for 28 days before you can get married, during which time anyone with strong grounds for objecting to the marriage is able to do so. After the 28 days, you are free to marry within 3 months from the date the notices were received by the registrar.
After 28 days, but no earlier than 7 days before the date of the marriage, the registrar can issue a marriage schedule (this is the initial record of the marriage). The district register will keep this schedule until the marriage.
The civil ceremony can then take place in a registrar's office or in any other appropriate location (other than religious premises) which the couple and the registration authority have agreed upon (eg a home or on a hillside). The marriage will be conducted by the district registrar (who is appointed by the Registrar General). Two witnesses over the age of 16 must be present at the ceremony and must sign the marriage schedule.
Religious marriages
Partners getting married in a religious (or belief) ceremony are allowed to register a marriage at the same time as performing the religious ceremony.
Couples getting married in a religious (or belief) ceremony in Scotland must follow the same notice process as those getting married in a civil ceremony.
The couple wishing to get married must give notice of their marriage to the district registrar in the area in which they are intending to marry before it can proceed. You must give no more than 3 months’ and no less than 28 days’ notice before you intend to marry. Proof of name, age, nationality and address will be required in order to be able to effectively submit notice. In the case of parties who are divorced or widowed, proof of divorce or death certificate are needed.
This notice of intention to marry will be publicly displayed for 28 days before you can get married, during which time anyone with strong grounds for objecting to the marriage is able to do so. After the 28 days, you are free to marry within 3 months from the date the notices were received by the registrar.
After 28 days, but no earlier than 7 days before the date of the marriage, the registrar can issue a marriage schedule (this is the initial record of the marriage). The marriage schedule acts as a licence allowing the celebrant to marry you and thus either yourself or your partner must collect this marriage schedule from the registrar’s office in person.
A religious (or belief) ceremony must be conducted by someone who is an approved celebrant. A list of approved celebrants in the area on which you are planning to get married should be available at every district registrar.
A religious (or belief) wedding can take place anywhere provided the couple and the approved celebrant agreed on it. Vows will then be exchanged between the couples and once completed the couple will need to sign the marriage schedule in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 16. The signed marriage schedule must then be returned to the district registrar within 3 days of the marriage.
What is the difference between civil and religious ceremonies?
Religious weddings generally need to take place in churches, chapels or other registered religious buildings, conducted by the relevant religious officials and in accordance with the specific religious rules and procedures. For example, same-sex couples are not allowed to get married in an Anglican church.
Civil ceremonies can take place in a register office, any venue approved by the local council and certain religious premises. Normally they are performed by a registrar. Although a civil ceremony may include music and readings, it must not include anything of a religious nature (such as hymns or readings from a religious text).