Unless you are marrying in the Church of England or Church in Wales by Banns or Common Licence, notice of marriage has to be given personally to your local superintendent registrar(s) at the Register Office in the district in which you and your partner reside.
A notice of marriage states the names of the parties to the marriage, age, marital status, address, occupation nationality and the intended venue for the marriage. It is a legal document covered by the Perjury Act 1911.

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 should both attend your local register office together to give your notices of marriage. If you live in different registration districts then each of you will need to give notice separately in your respective district. After giving notice you must wait a further sixteen days before the marriage can take place, (for example, if notice is given on 1 October the marriage may take place on or after 17 October).

On the day of your weddings you must bring two witnesses.

For marriages in England and Wales you cannot get married if:-

• Either of you is under 16
  
• Either of you is under 18 and does not have parental consent
  
• Either of you is already married
  
• A previous husband or wife has been missing for less than seven years. Similarly, if you do not have a certificate of divorce based on presumption of death a marriage cannot take place.
  
• You are blood relatives.