Plan your ceremony

If you are getting married, you can have a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. Civil partnerships can only be civil ceremonies.

Getting married in Scotland

Visit the National records of Scotland website to find out what you need to do if you want to get married in Scotland.

Getting married abroad

Visit GOV.UK's Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad webpage to find out where to get advice about local marriage laws and what documents you will need.

Before you have your ceremony in Croydon

You must:

  • decide where your ceremony will be held
  • notify us at least 3 months in advance

If you plan to have a ceremony outside of Croydon, you must give notice in the register office in the Borough in which you live.

Types of ceremonies

If you are getting married, you can have either a:

  • religious ceremony
  • non-religious civil ceremony 

If you are forming a civil partnership you can have a civil ceremony, but not a religious ceremony.

Civil ceremonies

You can have a civil ceremony at Croydon Register Office or in any approved venue.

Religious ceremonies

You can have a marriage ceremony at any religious building registered as a marriage venue. Your marriage must be registered immediately after the ceremony by an authorised person, such as a religious minister. If the venue does not have an authorised person you must book registrars to attend the ceremony and register the marriage.

Ceremony planning guidance

Read our guide to planning a ceremony.