UK to deregulate wedding venues in 200-year law shake-up
The UK government plans to let couples marry in pubs, homes or outdoors to reduce the average £21,990 cost of a wedding, a reform that could reshape the hospitality sector.
England and Wales will scrap rules that require weddings to take place in specially approved venues, the government announced today, proposing the biggest overhaul of marriage laws in almost two centuries.
Under the plans, couples could legally tie the knot almost anywhere—a private home, a beach, or a cruise ship—provided a registered officiant approves the location. The legal requirements for a civil ceremony would be reduced to signing paperwork and consenting in front of an officiant.
Authorities will enforce a "dignity framework" to prevent the legal act of marriage from becoming a stunt. Activities like skydiving or rollercoaster rides are explicitly banned. However, light-hearted elements like a Shakespeare reading or a sing-along to Sweet Caroline will be permitted, and alcohol cannot be casually consumed during the ceremony.
The reforms directly target the rising cost of weddings, which the industry group Hitched reports now averages £21,990, with prices highest in London and south-east England. By removing strict venue licensing barriers, the government aims to increase competition across the hospitality sector, forcing down prices and creating new revenue streams for unconventional spaces.
The regulatory shift will be significant for event spaces that have long been sidelined. Boat operator Hobbs of Henley, which hosts receptions on the River Thames, welcomed the plans. The company noted that its wedding business had declined for twenty years because couples increasingly wanted a single venue for both the legal ceremony and the reception.
Beyond location rules, the proposals allow humanist organisations to conduct legally binding weddings for the first time. They also relax restrictions on religious content, such as Bible readings, during civil ceremonies.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the reforms would update "outdated" marriage laws that had "not kept pace with the social and cultural changes that have shaped modern Britain." He argued that "archaic rules" often made the cost of weddings "out of reach."
The consultation closes on 24 September, and new legislation will be required before any changes take effect, likely pushing implementation to next year. If enacted, the changes will bring England and Wales in line with Scotland, which already permits marriages almost anywhere, from isolated glens to uninhabited islands.
