The government has launched a consultation seeking views on its proposals to continue to permit outdoor civil marriages and civil partnerships on approved premises, and to permit outdoor religious marriages in the grounds of places of worship.
Since July 2021, couples have been able to have their civil marriage and civil partnership proceedings outside, in the grounds of buildings such as stately homes and hotels which are approved or become approved for civil ceremonies. This was made possible because the Government laid a statutory instrument amidst the Covid-19 pandemic to give couples more choice of setting and to support the wedding and civil partnership sector. However, that statutory instrument has effect only until 5 April 2022.
The government proposes to lay and bring into force a further statutory instrument to enable outdoor civil marriage and civil partnership proceedings to continue indefinitely.
I have written about this before. I think it is really an exciting idea that weddings could take place in the garden but will there be problems? How big a garden? Does it have to be in line with the solemnity of marriage? Who is going to judge that? Back garden only? Or front garden too? Does the garden have to be in good shape, weed free etc.? We see lovely pictures of gardens in the set up advocating weddings in the garden but what if the garden you want needs the touch of Alan Titchmarsh?
I’m looking forward to the replies to the consultation.