Are nudist weddings going to be the next big thing?

Picture a wedding. Do you think of a church, a big white dress, smart suits and a lot of flowers?

If so, you may have to think again.

This week UK government ministers will start the wedding laws review, following the decision in 2013 to legalise gay marriage. A paper was published by UK Justice Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday, which confirms that the British Naturists are one of the groups supporting the review.

And the question goes much further than what you can wear (or not wear) to get married. What about who can oversee the wedding or where you're allowed to conduct the ceremony?

There are currently a restricted number of places where a couple can get married, but that could all change under new laws. From stay-at-home to supermarket to sky-diving weddings – almost anything could be possible.

The Wedding Fairy, George Watts, spoke to Huffington Post UK about why he's fine with the idea of naked weddings. "Ultimately the wedding is about you as a couple and should reflect your interests and passions," he said. "Family and friends should support you in that and if that means ditching the dress and saying 'I do' in the nude so be it.

"For dedicated naturists this is of course a way of life and therefore you shouldn't be afraid of reflecting this and integrating a spot of nakedness throughout the celebration."

Harry Benson of the Marriage Foundation, an organisation which campaigns to promote marriage, also believes it's ok for there to be more freedom in how weddings are conducted. "I have no objection to people getting married jumping out of an aeroplane or on a beach as long as they mean it and the marriage is properly registered," he told the Mail online.

Unlike Watts, however, Benson thinks that naturist weddings may be taking things a bit far.

"Some of these ideas are just silly," Benson said. "I hope there will be guidance for the best man at a nude wedding on where to keep the ring."

While those who have no desire for a church or Register Office wedding may rejoice at the potential widening of the wedding law, concerns that any new laws may be misused have also been raised by Grayling's paper.

According to the Mail Online, there's a risk that the right to run marriages would be granted to 'inappropriate' groups, and that criminal gangs running sham or forced marriages would move in. "The groups identified as a risk included political organisations, Jedi Knights, Hell's Angels, radicalised groups and criminal gangs involved in forced marriage," the Mail said.

The future of wedding ceremonies remains, for now, unclear. But as The Wedding Fairy Watts says, "if the laws do change, we could be seeing a lot more butlers in the buff – quite literally."

related articles
Church of England cracks down on sham marriages

Church of England cracks down on sham marriages

South London vicar \'presided over 492 sham marriages in 15 months\'
South London vicar 'presided over 492 sham marriages in 15 months'

South London vicar 'presided over 492 sham marriages in 15 months'

Christian swingers: 'God uses us to spread his word'
Christian swingers: 'God uses us to spread his word'

Christian swingers: 'God uses us to spread his word'

Sham wedding trial of south London vicar collapses
Sham wedding trial of south London vicar collapses

Sham wedding trial of south London vicar collapses

News
Danny Kruger: Britain should be 'confidently Christian'
Danny Kruger: Britain should be 'confidently Christian'

Reform MP Danny Kruger has spoken of the need for Britain to once more assert itself as a  country with a long and rich Christian Heritage.

400 girls 'missing' thanks to sex-selective abortions
400 girls 'missing' thanks to sex-selective abortions

Sex selective abortions appear to be taking place within the Indian community, data suggests.

Community pantries mark a million visits as new research highlights impact on food insecurity
Community pantries mark a million visits as new research highlights impact on food insecurity

Community pantries across the UK have recorded their one millionth visit, as new research suggests the membership-based food model is helping thousands of households reduce food insecurity, cut costs and prevent them from falling into extreme hardship.

Christmas was a mix of joy and hostility for Christians in India
Christmas was a mix of joy and hostility for Christians in India

India has witnessed a blend of joyful Christmas celebrations in many parts of the country, alongside reports of hate, hostility, and attacks on Christians this season, particularly in northern and central regions.