In this day and age, nothing comes for free, although Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson will have us believe differently. Marriage carries a number of costs, some extravagent, some unavoidable.

• For a register office wedding you will be charged £30 each when you give notice and £40 payable on the day. You will be charged £3.50 for the marriage certificate.
• For marriage at a licensed/approved venue the fee will be included in the overall quote and varies from place to place, but it generally runs into three figures.
• For a marriage in a place of religious worship other than the Church of England or the Church of Wales the fee varies and is payable to the minister/celebrant/trustees. The superintendent registrar will be required (unless the building has an authorised person), so a fee of £47 will be charged. In addition you will pay £30 each for the notice.