Do you agree that marriage venue laws should change?
Should couples should be able to wed on beaches, in gardens and on cruise ships?
A body calling for an overhaul of “confusing, out-of-date and restrictive” marriage laws thinks it’s time for a change.
Existing law on weddings in England and Wales is “stuck in time” and does not work for most couples, according to the Law Commission, which advises the Government on law reform.
It said, “needless regulation” prevents couples from marrying in a place that is special to them or having a ceremony that reflects their wishes and beliefs.
Consequently, it warns many couples are choosing to celebrate in a way the law does not recognise, some are getting married abroad and some are paying for two ceremonies – one that complies with the law and one that aligns with their personal values.
Currently, a couple must choose between a civil or religious ceremony, and hold their wedding in a registered building, and there are different rules among religious groups and for civil services.
The Law Commission is proposing that weddings should be able to take place in “any safe and dignified location”, such as family homes, gardens, beaches, forests, parks, village halls and cruise ships.
The officiant, not the location, would be regulated, and couples would have more freedom to personalise the content of their ceremony.
The proposed changes would enable couples to wed in “smaller and cheaper” venues, with increasing demand for more affordable, personal options, and as the cost-of-living crisis and the ‘Covid backlog’ of weddings persist.
And a set of universal rules would apply across religious and civil weddings, with few exceptions, enabling fairer treatment for all beliefs.
This could include legalising non-religious belief ceremonies, such as humanist weddings if permitted by Government.
The Law Commission said its proposals would represent the biggest overhaul of wedding law since the 19th Century.
Do you think there should be an overhaul of our wedding laws? Do you agree the Government should make it easier for people to get married when and where they would like? Or do you think more freedom may lead to more forced or sham marriages?
