Can this be right on Radio 2 Sunday Love Songs?

[Booboomylove]

As usual I was in bed listening to Michael Balls Sunday love songs show on radio 2 the other week. He was speaking to this woman on the phone, she said her partner had invited her to a work party and told her to wear a long dress. When she got there he proposed and everyone they knew was there and it was actually their wedding. She said she was engaged for 30 minutes before she got married. I thought to myself no way is that true! I got married recently and we had to go into the registry office at least 28 days before to show ID etc and make sure no-one was being coerced into marriage.

I heard that one op.

You need to give notice to marry in England and Wales (and I suspect in the rest of the UK). You can't do it for someone else, they have to consent directly. She must have known they were planning to marry in the next 12 months at least. I call BS.

It isn’t possible. Both parties have to go and give notice in England; you cannot have a legal ‘surprise’ wedding. He may have got a celebrant to do a commitment ceremony but that’s not legally binding. There was something on the Jeremy Vine radio show a while ago where a couple claimed to be the first to be married on a moving train and that wasn’t true either- they had had the legal bit done beforehand. People seem to confuse the legal marriage bit with the celebratory wedding party bit these days… just hope that lady has double checked the legality of it as she might be in for a surprise later if she needs a marriage certificate for claiming insurances or pensions etc!

No, it will be one of those fakey we did the paperwork weeks ago but this is oh so more meaningful parties. A glorified reception.