The government has launched a consultation into liberalising the country’s marriage laws. The stated aim of the changes is to incentivise marriage by reducing the financial costs and providing more options to religious minorities and the non-religious.
The headline proposal is that weddings will be permitted in almost any location, from pubs to back gardens. If the rules are changed, it will be the biggest change to marriage laws since the 1994 Marriage Act.
That Act was passed as a Private Member's Bill proposed by Christian broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, who was then a Conservative MP. The legislation opened up the range of venues at which a civil wedding could legally take place.
The latest proposal, put forward by Labour minister David Lammy, focuses not on the location but the officiant. Essentially, as long as a legally recognised official is present, a wedding can legally take place with less regard to the location.
Announcing the consultation, Lammy said that current rules around marriages are “complicated, inconsistent and sometimes unfair, treating different groups in different ways”.
“This complex mix of laws can cause real problems for couples, particularly those who want a religious wedding," he said.
"Some feel forced to pay for two different ceremonies, one legal and one belief based. Some enter into a marriage that isn’t legally recognised. Others feel they have little choice but to marry in a way which doesn’t reflect their beliefs, marring what should be a joyous occasion.”
Lammy pointed out that the average wedding now costs £20,000, putting many off from getting married at all.
“Non-religious couples also face unnecessary challenges, including being confined to choosing a location from a limited range of approved buildings," he said.
"Yet there is no reason a wedding taking place on a beach, in a forest, or in a family garden can’t carry the same dignity and importance of a wedding held in a more traditional venue.”
The Marriage Foundation, which is taking part in the consultation, has not objected to the plans, but has said the government should do more to protect marriage itself, rather than simply facilitate weddings.
Speaking to Premier Christian News, Dr Harry Benson, Director of Research at the Foundation, said, "At the Marriage Foundation, we want to change the atmosphere … There is a whole psychology around the act of marriage: the proposal, the clarity of the decision, and having people around you."
He added, "Marriage is a serious business, always has been and always will be."
