Couples free to marry at the beach or the pub under new plans

Couples in England and Wales will be able to marry at home, at a pub or on a cruise ship, under what the government is calling the biggest shake-up to weddings law in almost 200 years.

Currently, a marriage or civil partnership ceremony must take place at an approved venue to be legally binding.

The UK government says it wants to update "outdated" marriage laws to make weddings more affordable and give couples more choice over where they say "I do".

Under the proposals, couples could legally marry almost anywhere - from a castle, to a hot-air balloon, a beach or a cruise ship in international waters - as long as the ceremony location is approved by a registered officiant.

But ceremonies deemed to be "gimmicks" that risk trivialising the legal act of marriage would not be allowed under what the government calls a "dignity framework".

Activities "such as skydiving, white-water rafting, rollercoasters or other amusement rides" would "fall short of the standard," it says in a consultation setting out the plans.

But it adds: "This would not preclude the inclusion of light-hearted elements such as a reading from Shakespeare, a sing-along to Sweet Caroline or other similar contributions, so long as these remain within the bounds of dignity and do not amount to excessive or inappropriate displays."

The proposals also say food and drink, including alcohol, should not be "casually/recreationally consumed during the ceremony".

The current restrictions on religious content in civil ceremonies could also be relaxed, allowing couples to include elements such as Bible readings.

The proposals would also allow non-religious belief organisations, including Humanists, to conduct legally binding weddings.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said marriage laws in England and Wales had "not kept pace with the social and cultural changes that have shaped modern Britain.

"They say you can't put a price on love – but too often, the cost of weddings puts this commitment out of reach," Lammy said.

"That's why I'm reforming archaic rules, so couples have more freedom to say 'I do' on their own terms, while strengthening safeguards to protect the meaning and permanence of marriage."

Signing the paperwork and consenting to the marriage in the presence of an officiant would be the main legal requirements during a civil ceremony under the plans.

The exact details of the government's reforms will be announced after the consultation ends on 24 September this year.

The government would need to pass new legislation to make any changes to marriage laws, meaning the reforms probably will not come into effect until next year.

In a report earlier this year, Hitched said the average UK wedding now costs £21,990, with the most expensive marriages in London and south-east England.

Hobbs of Henley, which offers wedding receptions aboard its boats on the River Thames, has welcomed the reforms, saying its business had "declined for the last twenty years as organisers have wanted a one-stop shop venue".

Outdoor weddings were legalised in England and Wales in 2021, but they still have to take place at a licensed venue.

Scotland has long allowed couples more freedom to choose their favoured marriage location, with civil or religious ceremonies permitted almost anywhere. It means couples have been married in isolated glens, on uninhabited islands and in ancient castles.

In Northern Ireland, there is no restriction on the location of a religious marriage, but civil ceremonies can only take place in approved venues.

The UK government committed to reforming wedding laws in England and Wales last year and is now consulting on proposals based on recommendations made by the Law Commission in 2022.

In its 2022 report, the Law Commission concluded that marriage laws, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, were "complicated, inefficient, unfair and needlessly restrictive".