To be legally married, you will need to have a registration of marriage at your local Register Office. This will need to be arranged and should ideally take place before your celebration. 

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All couples must obtain a legal marriage certificate in the weeks before or after their wedding ceremony, much as a birth certificate is issued before a christening or baby naming ceremony.  Most couples do this a day or so before the celebrant led celebration.

 

This is a very simple process, and there is no obligation to have a full ceremony at the register office.

You can request a ‘certificate only’ or ‘2+2’ service (couple + 2 witnesses) from the registrar, and will then be able to have your full celebrant-led ceremony anytime, and anywhere you wish.

 

This extract from the official UK Government website makes it very clear:

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Cost of registering a marriage or civil partnership

 You must pay a fee to register a UK marriage or civil partnership – different fees may apply abroad.

This is £57 at a register office, but may be more at other venues.  

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https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships/weddings-and-civilpartnershipceremonies

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Once you have obtained your marriage certificate, everything else – such as exchanging rings and vows – is entirely your choice.

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