Britpick Question

[amberfocus]

What are the legalities of eloping in the U.K.? Do you need to get the marriage license a certain number of days ahead of time? Do you need to have lived in residence in the city you are eloping in for a certain number of days before you can marry there? I seem to remember reading something along those lines. Or can you just show up at the registrar's office and go to it like you could at a chapel in Las Vegas? Is there anywhere in the U.K. that is like Las Vegas where you can get married that same day? This question is not for Zeppelins so don't go getting any ideas! *smiles* Thanks in advance.

Comments

[solarflar3.livejournal.com]

If you are going to elope, most people go to Gretna Green. Now you cant get married over the anvil any more there, but you can have a civil ceremony and have the anvil as symbolic. Kinda romantic I think.

I think you need to give notice of 2 weeks, so as to have your banns posted. Not 100% sure, but my niece got married in Gretna and I seem to remember that they have to be there 2 weeks prior to do so.

For a local civil ceremony, you have to give notice about 6 weeks prior at the registry office. You can get a marriage licence with enables you to get married after 48 hours I think it is.

But if it is eloping, then it's traditionally Gretna.

[doctorsdiva.livejournal.com]

You have to get a marriage license to get married. My beloved and I had to stay in a hotel in York for 7 days so we could get married at a register office there. But we had to go and apply for the license 3 weeks before.

I found this.

.Unless you are marrying in the Church of England of Church in Wales by Banns or Common License, notice of marriage has to be given by each of you personally to your local Superintendent Registrar(s).

Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days immediately before giving notice at the register office. If you both live in the same district, you will each give notice at the same office. If you live in different registration districts, you will each give notice separately in your own area.

A notice of marriage is valid for twelve months. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar more than twelve months before the date of your wedding.

A notice of marriage is valid only for the venue named on the notice. Whereas it may be possible to alter the date of your marriage (provided it is before the expiry date), a change of location would require a fresh notice and fee.

After giving notice you must wait a further fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place (for example, if notice is given on 1st July, the marriage may take place on or after 17th July).

Both authorities must have been issued on or before the day of the marriage.

[doctorsdiva.livejournal.com]

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/lifeevents/marriage#t2

[azriona.livejournal.com]

This question is not for Zeppelins so don't go getting any ideas! *smiles*

And I'll bet you could hear the moans and groans from across the Internets after typing those words, too.

[melnay13.livejournal.com]

I did.

[hezmanagirl.livejournal.com]

Sure were plenty here in Colorado! *pouts*

[caraskye.livejournal.com]

I got very excited. Only to have my hope squashed :(

[qtrhorserider.livejournal.com]

That's just...mean...getting our poor hopes up like that...you are such a tease...

[maniacalshen.livejournal.com]

Haha, it didn't even occur to me that it'd be a Zeppelins marriage. Jackie would kill them both. And you just know those two will want a nice ceremony, or at least that's the feeling I get.

Incidentally, I learned a surprising amount about British weddings when writing "Taking the Plunge." And then was able to ignore most of it since the Doctor and Rose don't legally exist in England, but I do have some cool facts stored in my brain if you need them!

[alizin1derland.livejournal.com]

Feeling totally ignorant of my own country now - I thought the only reason people eloped to Gretna Green was because it's pretty much the first town you come to over the Scottish boarder and you can get married at 16 in Scotland without your parent's consent whereas in England/Wales you need parental consent up until 18.

Can you tell I'm not married?