Important Changes To Marriage Law In The UK

/

The rules on where couples can get married in the UK are soon to be relaxed.

Earlier this year Theresa May launched a two-year Law Commission review that will look at opening up the choice of locations for couples to get legally married in. At The Wedding Venue Academy - Coffee and Chat Event we hosted at Chycara in June we asked wedding expert Nicola Le Couteur Bisson from The Guild of Cornish Celebrants to explain exactly what these changes might mean to licensed wedding venues. Here’s a roundup of her top tips and information on the forthcoming review.

These are some of the conclusions to the Law Commissions Scoping Report in 2015 regarding Marriage Law and will form the basis of the 2 year review.

  • Should all marriages have to take place in a stated location?

  • Should there be any restrictions as to the types of location where a marriage can be solemnized?

  • For example, should marriages be able to take place outdoors?

  • Who, if anyone, should have to agree or authorise the chosen location and what, if any, criteria should apply?

  • If the current restrictions were retained, are any smaller changes needed to make the system more rational or efficient?

  • Should marriage ceremonies have to take place with open doors?

  • Should the ability to solemnize marriages be extended beyond those currently able to do so?

  • Is a ceremony necessary to solemnize a marriage?

  • What types of ceremony should be allowed?

Unfortunately, there are no definitive answers at the moment – the review is set to last for 2 years and will take information from a wide range of interested parties.

As a Venue Owner you can start preparing now for the proposed changes. Take a look around your venue and grounds with a fresh pair of eyes, the changes may mean that you no longer need a structure for a legal wedding to be conducted, so is there a focal point in the grounds or garden that would work, a glade in the woodland, a beautiful wall swathed in wisteria? Let your imagination run riot, then look at logistics – how will you get guests/seating/props there? What is the ground like? Electric? Lighting? Why not try it out using a Celebrant led ceremony. Competition – if you are a licensed venue you have built up a huge amount of expertise in how to run a wedding day – not everyone will want to go to a venue which may be cheaper but who will not have run such an important event before, do not underestimate how much your experience will count to couples, you can help – as you do now – to alleviate their stress! There may some interim legislation which may allow you to undertake legal ceremonies within the grounds of your licensed property without a structure being involved – we have heard nothing definite yet – but by doing some strategic planning now you will be ahead of the curve!

You can find out more about The Guild Of Cornish Celebrants here - www.cornishcelebrants.co.uk or chat to Nicola at the Coffee and Chat Event.

Image Credits Toby Lowe Photography