Yes, technically you can get married in a church on Christmas Day. There is no legal restriction on marrying on Christmas Day, or on any other day of the year. However, whether it's possible in practice comes down to the church itself and the availability of the vicar. It would be the same if you were marrying in a wedding venue with a registrar as your officiant.
Christmas Day is one of the busiest dates in the Church of England calendar, with multiple services and high attendance. If your chosen church and vicar can work around their existing services, and have the capacity to support a wedding, there's no formal reason your ceremony couldn't take place. The key is having an open conversation with your vicar early on in the wedding planning process to understand what's realistically possible.
Most church weddings take place on Saturdays, with Sundays also being popular. If you're planning a wedding on a Sunday, Christmas Day, or another holy day, the vicar will need to ensure your ceremony does not clash with regular services. They may also need to confirm that sufficient staff or volunteers are available to support your wedding on the day.
With its sense of tradition, reflection and celebration, Christmas can be a particularly meaningful time to marry in church. While there are no legal barriers to marrying on Christmas Day or Easter, churches are often exceptionally busy during major religious celebrations. Your vicar will want to be confident they can give your wedding the time, focus and care it deserves. In some cases, the practical demands of the day may mean they're unable to agree to conduct a ceremony.
Are There Any Times of the Year When You Can't Get Married in a Church?
There is no legal reason why you couldn't get married in a church at any time of year. However, some churches may choose not to conduct weddings during certain holy periods.
One example is Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. Lent is traditionally a time of reflection and restraint, and some churches may limit the number of weddings they conduct during this period. There may also be restrictions around decorations or music.
Good Friday is another date to be aware of. As it marks the crucifixion of Jesus, some churches may decide not to hold weddings due to the solemn nature of the day. These decisions are usually made at a local level, so practices can vary from church to church.
What Should You Do If You Want to Get Married on a Special Date?
If you're hoping to get married on Christmas Day, Easter, a bank holiday, or another significant date, speak to your vicar as early as possible. Ultimately, it is at their discretion whether they can conduct a wedding on that day.
Planning ahead gives you the best chance of securing your preferred date and understanding any limitations around timings, décor or guest numbers. You can find and explore churches for wedding across the UK on Guides for Brides to help you start the conversation.