Marriage in the UK is a legally binding contract and there are therefore certain legal requirements that must be followed otherwise the marriage may be invalid:

a) You must both be a minimum age of 16 years old and in England and Wales parental / guardian consent is needed for anyone to marry between the ages of 16 and 18 years.

b) You must both be free to marry and have no existing legal marriage bond.

c) There must be no close family relationship or blood ties such as brother and sister or father and daughter between you and your partner.

d) The marriage must take place indoors in a registered building, such as a register office, religious venue or licensed venue.

e) The marriage must take place before a registrar or authorised person.

f) The ceremony must take place in the presence of two witnesses who must be able to speak and understand English.

g) The ceremony must take place between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

In Scotland, regulations on marriage are much less restrictive. Couples are able to marry indoors or outdoors with the approval of the officiant. The legal age is 16 or over and parental consent is not required before the age of 18.

For further information see also
Choosing the Right Marriage Ceremony