You might soon be able to get married on a beach, in a pub garden, or even in a hot air balloon. Currently, in England and Wales, weddings can only take place at an approved, licensed venue, but that could all change in a huge shake-up aimed at opening up where we say ‘I do.’
While my partner won’t like the idea of getting married in my dad’s muddy field, the Government has launched a major consultation to make getting married simpler and cheaper. The proposals would shift the focus from bricks and mortar to “people and promises”—meaning you could hypothetically marry in a forest or on a cruise ship.
Why is this ceremony change happening?
Weddings are fun, but they’re also expensive. The average wedding in England costs more than £20,000, with venue hire around £6,000. By opening up venue options, these proposals could significantly bring prices down (half of unmarried men and a third of unmarried women in relationships cite costs as a reason for not marrying).
“They say you can’t put a price on love – but too often, the cost of weddings puts this commitment out of reach,” said Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. “That’s why I’m reforming archaic rules, so couples have more freedom to say ‘I do’ on their own terms, while strengthening safeguards to protect the meaning and permanence of marriage.”
It’s also about encouraging more to marry: It’s estimated that a 3% increase in weddings could generate around £139 million in additional annual spending, contributing over £238 million to the UK economy over the next decade. But it’s not just about money, but meaning.
Under the current system, certain faiths and belief groups are treated differently, with many couples having a religious-only wedding that reflects their faith, followed by a separate legal ceremony, or no legal ceremony at all. These changes would bring it all under one roof. For example, interfaith couples could celebrate both of their traditions in a single legally recognised ceremony.
Where won’t I be able to get married?
You won’t be able to get married just anywhere. Officiants will still have to meet strict requirements to be able to conduct weddings, however, and they will also determine if a location is suitable for a ceremony. Your wedding could be cancelled if they deem it unfit, so don’t start planning your scuba diving ceremony yet.
Your ceremony must not include elements that are “gimmick-based or trivialising and which would detract from the significance of marriage as a legal act” (although light-hearted elements such as a “reading from Shakespeare” or “a sing-along to Sweet Caroline” are fine).
You also can’t choose somewhere “characterised by unavoidable interruption or distraction” (like a busy nightclub or a football stadium during a match). Anywhere that requires you to focus on another activity during the ceremony—i.e. “skydiving, white-water rafting, rollercoasters or other amusement rides”—is also off limits.
The consultation will run from July 16 to September 24, lasting 10 weeks, and you can have your say here.
