UK Marriage Age 2025: What Age Can You Get Married?

UK Marriage Age by Country: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

The legal marriage age UK varies across different countries within the United Kingdom, creating important distinctions that couples need to understand. Since February 2023, significant changes have created a clear divide between Scotland and the rest of the UK regarding minimum marriage ages.

Key Differences Between UK Countries

Scotland remains the only part of the UK where you can get married at 16 without any parental consent requirements. This makes Scotland unique within the United Kingdom and explains why places like Gretna Green continue to attract young couples who cannot marry elsewhere in the UK.

The rest of the UK – England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – now requires both parties to be at least 18 years old with absolutely no exceptions. This represents a significant change from the previous system where parental consent could allow younger marriages.

Can You Get Married at 16 in the UK?

The answer to “can you get married at 16 UK” depends entirely on which country within the UK you’re in. Scotland maintains its traditional approach allowing marriage from age 16, while the rest of the UK has raised the minimum age to 18 without exceptions.

Scotland: Marriage at 16 Allowed

In Scotland, 16-year-olds can marry without needing permission from parents or guardians. This has been Scottish law for many years and continues despite changes elsewhere in the UK. Scottish law recognises that 16-year-olds have the legal capacity to make marriage decisions independently.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland: 18 Minimum

Since 27 February 2023, it has been impossible to get married under 18 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. The previous system allowing 16-17 year olds to marry with parental consent has been completely abolished, with no exceptions for any circumstances.

Parental Consent Rules: What Changed in 2023

The biggest change to UK marriage age requirements came in February 2023 when England, Wales, and Northern Ireland eliminated parental consent as a pathway to marriage for under-18s. Understanding what changed helps explain current marriage age UK regulations.

Before February 2023

Previously, 16 and 17-year-olds could marry in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland if they had consent from parents or guardians with parental responsibility. If parents refused consent, young people could apply to court for permission, though this rarely happened in practice.

• Age 16-17: Could marry with written parental consent from those with parental responsibility
• Court Override: Could apply to court if parents refused consent (rarely used)
• Age 18+: Could marry without any parental involvement
• Scotland: Already allowed marriage from 16 without parental consent

After February 2023

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 eliminated all options for under-18 marriage in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Parental consent cannot override the 18-year age limit under any circumstances.

This change addressed concerns about forced marriages and situations where young people faced family pressure to marry against their true wishes. The law now prioritises individual choice and maturity over family preferences regarding marriage timing.

UK Marriage Statistics: How Many Young People Marry

Understanding how many 16 year olds get married in the UK provides context for the recent legal changes. Official statistics show that very few teenagers marry, making the legal changes affect a small but vulnerable population.

Recent Marriage Age Statistics

According to Office for National Statistics data, teenage marriages have declined significantly over recent decades. In 2019 (the most recent year with complete data before the legal changes), fewer than 100 people under 18 married in England and Wales combined.

Average Marriage Age Trends

The average age to get married UK has been rising consistently. In 2019, the average age was 33.4 years for men and 31.5 years for women, compared to much younger ages in previous decades. This trend towards later marriage makes the legal changes affecting young people less impactful on overall marriage statistics.

Legal Requirements for Getting Married in the UK

Beyond age requirements, getting married in the UK involves several legal steps that couples must complete regardless of which country they marry in. Understanding these requirements helps couples plan their weddings effectively.

Essential Legal Requirements

All UK marriages require certain basic legal elements to be valid. These apply whether you’re getting married in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, though specific procedures may vary slightly between countries.

• Legal Capacity: Both parties must be of legal age and mentally capable of understanding marriage
• Free Consent: Both parties must consent freely without force, fraud, or duress
• Single Status: Neither party can be already married or in a civil partnership
• Not Related: Parties cannot be closely related in ways that would make marriage illegal
• Proper Ceremony: Marriage must be conducted by an authorised person in an approved venue

Documentation Required

Couples planning to marry must provide specific documentation to register their intention to marry. Requirements are similar across the UK but may have slight variations depending on the local registration office and specific circumstances including official government guidance.

Professional legal guidance can be valuable when couples face complex situations involving international marriages, previous divorces, or family circumstances that affect their marriage plans. Understanding both legal requirements and practical considerations helps ensure couples can navigate family law requirements successfully.

Gretna Green and Scottish Marriage Traditions

Gretna Green marriage age rules follow Scottish law, allowing couples to marry from age 16 without parental consent. This famous Scottish border town continues to attract couples who cannot marry elsewhere in the UK due to age restrictions, maintaining its historical role as a destination for young love.

Why Gretna Green Remains Popular

The continued popularity of Gretna Green reflects Scotland’s more liberal approach to marriage age compared to the rest of the UK. Young couples who are 16 or 17 can marry there legally, whereas they would need to wait until 18 if marrying in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Historical Context

Gretna Green became famous because Scottish marriage laws were historically more liberal than English laws. Young English couples would travel to Scotland to marry when they couldn’t get permission in England. Today, it continues to follow Scottish Government marriage regulations allowing 16-year-olds to marry without parental consent, maintaining this tradition though the reasons have evolved due to recent legal developments.

Future Changes Under Consideration

Scotland is reviewing whether to raise its marriage age to 18, which would align with the rest of the UK and eliminate the current differences. If this change occurs, it would end the historical role of places like Gretna Green as destinations for underage marriage within the UK, requiring couples across Britain to wait until 18 to marry under unified legislation.

Young couples considering marriage should understand that legal requirements may change, and specialist advice can help navigate complex family situations where age, consent, or international factors affect marriage planning through expert family law guidance.