Marrying back home
Question
I'm living in France with my fiancé and want to come home to get married. I'm English and he's French and we both live in France, although my permanent address is still my parents' address in England. Can we get married in their parish church?
If this isn't possible what alternatives do I have to the registry office?
Answer
As you are still permanently resident at your parents' address there should not be a problem with getting married in the local parish church. You will need to talk to the vicar as they often have their own rules and regulations about who they will marry and what they will want you, as a couple, to do prior to the wedding. The Church of England has information setting out the legal requirements and fees that are charged.
If you find you can't get married in the local church you could find out, from your parents' local council, if there are any approve premises where you could get married. An approved premise might be a local hotel or stately home, etc.
Before you can get married you will need to either have your banns called in the church or give notice to the registrar. You will both have to be resident in England or Wales for seven days before notice is given (on the eighth day) and the notice must also state where the marriage will take place. Once you have given notice, and it's been officially entered into the marriage notice book, you can get married after 15 days have elapsed. The fee for giving notice of the marriage is £30 per person.
Because your partner is French, and therefore an EU citizen, he doesn't have to complete any other legal requirement for you to be officially married in the UK.
Updated: 05/12/2007
Question answered by CAB
