Blog - Wedding Law Consultation
What do you think of big changes to wedding law being proposed by the Law Commission? They are set to give couples more freedom to have the wedding they want but could hit wedding venues, who are already struggling with current restrictions in place.
Among a raft of changes proposed they include changing how you give notice of your intended wedding, types of wedding to include non-religious belief organisations and be allowed to get married at a venue of choice rather than having to choose a licenced venue.
The Law Commission opened a public consultation on Thursday 3rd September. It is available online and closes on Thursday 3rd December 2020.
The proposed changes to modernise and improve wedding law include changes that would:
- Allow weddings to take place outdoors, for example on beaches, in parks, in private gardens and on the grounds of current wedding venues.
- Allow weddings to take place in a wider variety of buildings (for example in private homes) and on cruise ships.
- Offer couples greater flexibility over the form their wedding ceremonies will take, enabling them, if they desire, to use a variety of ceremonies (religious and non-religious) to mark their weddings.
- Simplify the process and remove unnecessary red tape to make it fair to couples, more efficient, and easier to follow. For example, couples will be able to complete the initial stage of giving notice of their intended wedding online or by post, rather than having to do so in person.
- Provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations (such as Humanists) and/or independent celebrants to conduct legally binding weddings.
- Ensure that fewer weddings conducted according to religious rites result in a marriage that the law does not recognise at all.
Guides for Brides have produced a handy guide on the proposals now up for consultation.
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