Terminology on marriage certificates.

[A Lee]

As a married woman, this seems an absolutely stupid question to ask, but on a marriage certificate what exactly is the difference between getting married 'by licence' and 'after banns'? I - in my ignorance! - thought everyone had to have banns read first.:confused:

[Pam Downes]

http://www.dixons.clara.co.uk/Certificates/indexbd.htm
marriage certificates
rest of the certificate
should give you the answer.
My mum and dad married by licence during the war. Dad would obviously had problems gaining the three weeks residency qualifications, so a licence was the simple way out.
Pam

[Ladkyis]

If you get married at the register office too it is by licence. Banns are for church.


Ann

[A Lee]

Thank you Pam and Ladkyis.

It was a church wedding in 1919, so that rules out WW1, although the groom was a sailor. Any other reason a couple would get married quickly?

[Guy Etchells]

If the groom was in the Royal Navy he may have had compassionate leave to get married.
This is what happened in the case of my m & f in-laws, he was in the army and applied for leave to get married.
When on leave he then told his intended if they didn't get married he would be up on a charge so they quickly arranged a registry office wedding.
Cheers
Guy

[A Lee]

Thanks Guy, that's the most likely explanation then.:)