Planning your ceremony

If you're looking to get married or form a civil partnership, you'll find everything you need here to help plan your perfect day.

Who can get married or form a civil partnership

You can get married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales if you're:

• 18 years old or over
• not already married or in a civil partnership
• not closely related

What you need to do

To get married or form a civil partnership you need to:

• decide on the type of ceremony you want to have - if you're getting married you can choose either a religious or civil ceremony
• choose and book your venue - see the list of civil ceremony venues in Barnsley
• book a registrar for your ceremony
• give notice of a marriage or civil partnership

Types of ceremony

If you’re not sure whether to get married or form a civil partnership, the GOV.UK website has a comparison of marriages and civil partnerships to help you choose.

Wedding ceremonies

Marriage is a social and legal contract that gives you someone to rely on. It also brings a degree of emotional security.

You can choose to have either a religious or civil wedding ceremony. Religious weddings can take place at any registered religious building. Civil weddings can take place at a register office or other approved venue. See a list of approved venues in Barnsley.

Whether you choose a religious or civil wedding, you must exchange vows with your partner when you get married. Civil ceremonies can include readings, songs or music, but can't contain any religious content.

Civil partnership ceremonies

Forming a civil partnership gives your relationship legal recognition. They can be formed by both same sex and opposite sex couples.

You can form a civil partnership at a register office or other approved venue. See a list of approved venues in Barnsley. Venues that are approved to hold weddings are also approved to register civil partnerships. Civil partnerships can also be registered at religious premises, but can't be a religious ceremony.

You don't have to have a ceremony to form a civil partnership, although most couples do choose to have one. You also don't need to exchange vows for a civil partnership, but you can do this if you’d like to.