Getting married in the Cotswolds
The practical steps to a Cotswold wedding, from giving notice at the register office to choosing an approved venue, with the rules and the registrar's fees.
· 4 minute read
A Cotswold wedding follows the same law as any wedding in England. Here is what you have to do, and when.
Giving notice
You must give notice of your marriage at least 29 days before the ceremony (opens in a new tab), usually by appointment at your local register office, and the wedding must then take place within 12 months. You must each have lived in the district where you give notice for the past seven days; if you live in different districts, you give notice separately. If one of you is from outside the UK or Ireland, you usually give notice together; the rules differ for Anglican weddings, so check with the church.
Choose your venue early, and ask the register office what it needs to know about your plans when you book the appointment.
Who can marry
In England and Wales you must be 18 or over, not already married or in a civil partnership, and not closely related to each other.
Venues and ceremonies
A civil ceremony can take place at a register office or at a venue the council has approved, and a marriage can also take place in a registered religious building. You need at least two witnesses, and a civil ceremony may not include religious content. The full list of approved venues in England is published by HM Passport Office (opens in a new tab). It warns that not every current venue may be listed, so check with the local council too.
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Fees
The registrar's fee is set by law: £62 for a register office ceremony and £114.50 at a registered religious building when we checked in October 2026; GOV.UK publishes the current amounts (opens in a new tab). At other approved venues the registrar's fee can be different, so ask the register office for the area when you book.
To find the register office for the part of the Cotswolds you are marrying in, use the government's search by postcode (opens in a new tab), since the area spans several counties. For your guests' rooms, see where to stay in the Cotswolds.
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