Couples successful England and Wales volition beryllium capable to wed astatine home, astatine a pub oregon connected a cruise ship, nether what the authorities is calling the biggest shake-up to weddings instrumentality successful astir 200 years.
Currently, a matrimony oregon civilian concern ceremonial indispensable instrumentality spot astatine an approved venue to beryllium legally binding
The UK authorities says it wants to update "outdated" matrimony laws to marque weddings much affordable and springiness couples much prime implicit wherever they accidental "I do".
Under the proposals, couples could legally wed astir anyplace - from a castle, to a hot-air balloon, a formation oregon a cruise vessel successful planetary waters - arsenic agelong arsenic the ceremonial determination is approved by a registered officiant.
But ceremonies deemed to beryllium "gimmicks" that hazard trivialising the ineligible enactment of matrimony would not beryllium allowed nether what the authorities calls a "dignity framework".
Activities "such arsenic skydiving, white-water rafting, rollercoasters oregon different amusement rides" would "fall abbreviated of the standard," it says successful a consultation mounting retired the plans, external.
But it adds: "This would not preclude the inclusion of light-hearted elements specified arsenic a speechmaking from Shakespeare, a sing-along to Sweet Caroline oregon different akin contributions, truthful agelong arsenic these stay wrong the bounds of dignity and bash not magnitude to excessive oregon inappropriate displays."
The proposals besides accidental nutrient and drink, including alcohol, should not beryllium "casually/recreationally consumed during the ceremony".
The existent restrictions connected spiritual contented successful civilian ceremonies could besides beryllium relaxed, allowing couples to see elements specified arsenic Bible readings.
The proposals would besides let non-religious content organisations, including Humanists, to behaviour legally binding weddings.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said matrimony laws successful England and Wales had "not kept gait with the societal and taste changes that person shaped modern Britain.
"They accidental you can't enactment a terms connected emotion – but excessively often, the outgo of weddings puts this committedness retired of reach," Lammy said.
"That's wherefore I'm reforming archaic rules, truthful couples person much state to accidental 'I do' connected their ain terms, portion strengthening safeguards to support the meaning and permanence of marriage."
Signing the paperwork and consenting to the matrimony successful the beingness of an officiant would beryllium the main ineligible requirements during a civilian ceremonial nether the plans.
The nonstop details of the government's reforms volition beryllium announced aft the consultation ends connected 24 September this year.
The authorities would request to walk caller authorities to marque immoderate changes to matrimony laws, meaning the reforms astir apt volition not travel into effect until adjacent year.
English (US)·