On July 16, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Justice published an Open Consultation Document titled Tying the Knot: Reforming Weddings Law in England and Wales (full text). The forward to the Document reads in part:
Current weddings law is still built on rules dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. It belongs to a different age and no longer reflects the diverse society we are today. The result is a system that is complicated, inconsistent and sometimes unfair, treating different groups in different ways.
The Anglican, Jewish and Quaker faiths each have their own legal framework, while every other religious group must fit within a single set of rules, which often fail to reflect their traditions. Civil weddings are governed by another set of rules altogether. And non-religious belief organisations, including Humanists, cannot conduct legally binding weddings at all.
The law also places outdated restrictions on where people can marry and how their ceremony can be conducted.
This complex mix of laws can cause real problems for couples, particularly those who want a religious wedding. Some feel forced to pay for two different ceremonies, one legal and one belief based. Some enter into a marriage that isn’t legally recognised. Others feel they have little choice but to marry in a way which doesn’t reflect their beliefs, marring what should be a joyous occasion....
Non-religious couples also face unnecessary challenges, including being confined to choosing a location from a limited range of approved buildings. Yet there is no reason a wedding taking place on a beach, in a forest, or in a family garden can’t carry the same dignity and importance of a wedding held in a more traditional venue....
These reforms will create a modern framework that reflects our society today – giving couples more choice over who officiates over their wedding, where they can marry and how they celebrate one of the most important days of their lives....
But we are also clear that reform must not come at the expense of safeguards. Our proposals preserve the dignity and significance of marriage..... We will also strengthen protections against forced, predatory and sham marriages – to ensure marriages are always entered into freely, with informed consent, and are not used to exploit vulnerable people or gain unfair advantage....
The proposals are open for online comment from the public until September 24. [Thanks to Law & Religion UK for the lead.]
