Marriage Records in the UK

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate will give more information about the bride and groom, including the bride's maiden name in some cases - this can allow you to trace your ancestors back further by using the name to find the bride's mother, grandmother, etc.

Information in a Full Marriage Certificate

A full marriage certificate will give you the following information:

- Date of marriage
- Place of marriage
- Marital status of the bride and groom - whether by banns, licence or certificate
- Current address and occupation of the bride and groom
- Names and ages of the bride and groom
- Names and occupations of their fathers
- Names of witnesses

Ordering a Certificate

Certificates in England or Wales can be ordered online through the GRO (General Register Office). To order a certificate, simply follow the instructions on the GRO website, supplying the necessary data and a GRO Index reference.

The full reference is usually a volume and page reference or an 'entry number' for later records, given with the year, quarter and district. Events from the last 50 years will require you to supply more information at application stage.

To find the volume and page reference, you can go to BMDindex.co.uk or TheGenealogist.co.uk and look up the references you need to be able to order a marriage certificate.