On Friday 28 June 2019, the Government announced a review of how and where marriage ceremonies will be allowed. The Government says:
“The two-year project, which is the first of its kind, will review the current laws on how and where marriages can take place – many of which date back to the 19th Century.
It will look at removing unnecessary red-tape to increase the choice and lower the cost of venues. It could open up opportunities for civil ceremonies at sea, in private homes or military sites for service personnel.
Subject to the findings from the independent Law Commission the changes would ensure couples can marry in a way that is individually meaningful for them, while continuing to preserve the dignity of marriage ceremonies.”
It will be a Law Commission project and that will take two years but interestingly, the Government is saying that for civil marriages (basically not in churches or temples etc.) and for civil partnerships, they may change the law sooner than that.
We all see the television shows made in America where the couple are married in the back garden or on a beach. Who hasn’t thought that it looks amazing? And, of course, the cost can be contained allowing couples to get married with all the frills but not all of the expense.
Watch this space. In the meantime, start that garden improvement!