Wedding Law in UK: The Proposed Changes Explained

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting experiences you’ll have. But when you start looking into the legal side of wedding laws UK, particularly in England and Wales, it can feel surprisingly restrictive and old fashioned.

At the moment, the law focuses heavily on where you get married. Couples are largely limited to licensed buildings such as registry offices, churches, or approved civil wedding venues. However, wedding law reform is on the horizon — and it could bring significant changes to wedding laws UK.

For couples planning budget-friendly celebrations or dreaming of a wedding ceremony that truly reflects their personality, these proposals could open up far more freedom.

In this blog, you’ll find a clear breakdown of the proposed reforms and what they could mean for your big day.

What Are the Existing Wedding Laws Right Now in the UK?

Under the current rules, a legally binding wedding must take place in one of these settings:

• A Register Office (you may know this as a “Registry Office”)
• A Registered Place of Worship (like a church)
• An Approved Civil Venue (like a licensed hotel)

While couples can have their wedding ceremony in an outdoor setting, there are limitations on where it can legally take place. Since the pandemic, couples planning an outdoor wedding ceremony must choose venues that are licensed and permit ceremonies within their approved grounds.

Also, humanist and independent celebrants cannot currently perform legal weddings. This means that if you want a humanist ceremony, you must also hold a separate ceremony with a legally recognised officiant, such as a registrar, to make your marriage legally binding.

Drawbacks of the Existing Wedding Laws

Many couples in the UK choose celebrants to personalise their ceremony. However, under the existing laws, this often means holding two separate ceremonies, which can increase costs and add planning complexity.

You may also find that your wedding insurance is only geared for a traditional western wedding covering one wedding ceremony and one reception.

However, specialist wedding insurance policies such as InsuraWedding allow for additional events to be covered, giving you peace of mind.

A Shift from Buildings to People

The most significant change is the move toward an officiant-based system. Under this new proposed system, the legal part of the wedding won’t be tied to the four walls around you and your partner. Instead, the legal responsibility will shift to the officiant (the person conducting the ceremony).

As long as your officiant is authorised, the location simply needs to be considered "appropriate and dignified." This opens a world of possibilities for wedding ceremony venues in the UK, allowing couples to choose locations that were previously off-limits for legal ceremonies.

What Does This Mean for Your Venue Choice?

This could lead to a world of possibilities for wedding venues in the UK. Couples may be able to hold their wedding ceremony in locations that were not previously permitted for legal marriages.

• Beaches: Fancy a coastal wedding with your toes in the sand? These changes would make that legally possible
• Private Gardens: Turn a family home or a beautiful backyard into a small wedding venue
• Heritage Sites: Access to historic landmarks and cultural sites that don’t hold a traditional wedding license
• Outdoor Settings: Imagine legally tying the knot surrounded by greenery in a local park or woodland setting

Modernising the "Admin"

The proposed wedding law reform is not just about location. There are also plans to modernise the administrative side of getting married.

One of the proposed changes is the digitalisation of the notice process, moving away from mandatory in-person appointments at the register office. This would allow couples to complete part of the legal process online, rather than juggling additional appointments alongside an already busy wedding schedule.

Why This is Great for Your Budget

These proposed changes could also help couples manage their wedding budget more effectively:

• No "Venue Premium": Licensed wedding venues often charge more because of the cost of their license. By removing that requirement, you can pick a small wedding venue that fits your budget, not just one that has the right paperwork
• No Double Costs: By making more types of ceremonies legal on their own, you won't have to pay for two separate ceremonies (the "legal" bit and the "celebration" bit). Instead, you could choose one intimate wedding venue that suits you best

When Will This Happen?

While wedding law reform is progressing, these changes to wedding laws UK have not yet been implemented. A public consultation is expected first, and implementation would likely take time after that.

If you are getting married in the next few months, you still need to follow the current rules: you must use a licensed venue, and only certain people can legally marry you. But if your "I Do" is further off, keep a close eye on this—it could give you a lot more freedom for your perfect day.

What This Means for Couples Right Now

If you are currently in the middle of your wedding ceremony planning, the existing rules still apply:

• Stick to Licensed Venues: Your legal ceremony must take place in a registry office or a licensed "approved venue"
• Outdoor Limits: Outdoor wedding venues are only legal if the ceremony takes place within the grounds of a licensed premises
• The "Two-Ceremony" Rule:If you want a humanist wedding ceremony or independent celebrant-led wedding, you still need a separate appointment at a registry office to get your marriage certificate

Learn About InsuraWedding Cover

If you’re curious, here’s a glimpse of what we offer:

• Cancellation Cover – up to £15,000
• Financial Failure of Suppliers – up to £6,500
• Public Liability Cover for the Couple – up to £2 million
• Optional Public Liability Cover for Wedding Guests – up to £2 million
• Optional cover for up to 3 wedding celebrations

You don’t have to click here to find out more about InsuraWedding Wedding Insurance. But if you’d like to know how we can help keep your big day stress-free, the options always there.

This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute advice in any way. The information provided here is correct at the time of writing however please check the latest policy wording here for the latest policy terms, conditions and exclusions.