a. Marriages in England and Wales
The procedure of marriage by licence in England & Wales in order to reduce the time required under the procedure by certificate was abolished by amendment of the Marriage Act (1949) in 2000. Nevertheless, there are provisions for certificates to be supplied under the authority of the Registrar General in a period shorter than fifteen days under certain exceptional circumstances.
b. Marriages in Scotland
In Scotland, the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 abolished the procedure of marriage by licence in favour of provision for the district registrar supplying, under certain safeguards, a marriage schedule in a period shorter than fourteen days (see 16.25.b).
Although the procedures under a and b above reduce the time involved in obtaining the necessary documents from the registrar, time must still be allowed for the proper appointment of the meeting for worship and other procedures as described in the following sections
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