The government launched a 10-week consultation on 16 July 2026 to overhaul weddings law for the first time in almost 200 years. The reform would let couples marry in venues such as forests, beaches, castles and cruise ships, and could add £238 million to the economy over a decade.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 16 July 2026
- Consultation runs 16 July to 24 September 2026, the biggest wedding law shake-up in almost 200 years.
- Couples could marry almost anywhere, including forests, beaches, cruise ships and canal boats.
- Average UK wedding costs over £20,000, with venue hire alone around £6,000.
- Officiants would need to meet strict requirements and could be deauthorised for failing standards.
- Law Commission estimates a 3% rise in weddings could add £238 million to the economy over a decade.
KEY FACTS
- The consultation was launched on 16 July 2026 by the Ministry of Justice and runs for 10 weeks, closing on 24 September 2026.
- Around 470,000 people marry in England and Wales each year, under wedding law that has not been overhauled in almost 200 years.
- The average UK wedding costs more than £20,000, with venue hire alone typically costing around £6,000 before catering.
- Half of unmarried men and a third of unmarried women in relationships cite cost as a reason for not marrying, according to research cited by the Ministry of Justice.
- The Law Commission estimates a 3% increase in weddings could generate around £139 million in additional annual spending, contributing over £238 million to the economy over the next decade.
- Officiants would need to meet strict requirements to conduct weddings and could be deauthorised for failing to uphold standards.
These are consultation proposals, not law. The government is inviting views until 24 September 2026, and any changes to where and how couples can legally marry would need further legislation before taking effect.
What the consultation proposes
The Ministry of Justice launched a consultation on 16 July 2026 setting out the biggest proposed shake-up to weddings law in England and Wales in almost 200 years. Under the plans, couples could legally marry in venues far beyond the traditional register office, church or licensed premises, including forests, beaches, castles, canal boats and cruise ships at sea. The proposals shift the legal focus from the building where a ceremony takes place to the people making the commitment and the officiant overseeing it.
The consultation covers who can conduct a legally recognised wedding, what safeguards officiants must meet, and how the law treats couples who want a ceremony reflecting a particular faith or belief system alongside legal recognition. It runs for 10 weeks, from 16 July to 24 September 2026, after which the Ministry of Justice will publish a response setting out any changes it intends to take forward.
Why the government wants to change wedding law
Current weddings law is based on legislation that predates most of modern life, and the government says it does not reflect the diversity of ceremonies couples now want or the different faiths and belief systems involved. Some faiths and belief groups are treated differently under the existing system, meaning couples can face a choice between a ceremony that reflects their beliefs and one that gives them full legal protection. Research cited in the announcement suggests around two thirds of women who had a religious-only Muslim wedding did not also have a separate legal ceremony, leaving them without the legal protections marriage provides.
The proposals aim to create a single, consistent legal framework that works for religious, belief-based and non-religious ceremonies alike, and would allow interfaith couples to combine both of their traditions in one legally recognised wedding rather than needing two separate ceremonies.
What it could mean for wedding costs
The average wedding in England now costs more than £20,000, with venue hire alone typically around £6,000 before catering, according to figures cited by the Ministry of Justice. Cost is a significant barrier to marriage: research cited by government found that half of unmarried men and a third of unmarried women in relationships pointed to cost as a reason they had not married. By widening the range of locations where a legally recognised wedding can take place, the government hopes couples will have access to more affordable options without needing to choose between a ceremony that is legally binding and one they can actually afford.
The Law Commission, whose earlier recommendations underpin the consultation, estimates that a 3% increase in the number of weddings could generate around £139 million in additional annual spending, contributing more than £238 million to the UK economy over the next decade, with particular benefits expected for the wedding, tourism and hospitality sectors.
Safeguards: officiants, faith and forced marriage protections
The government says wider choice over wedding venues will come alongside stronger safeguards, not weaker ones. Officiants would need to meet strict requirements before they are authorised to conduct legally recognised weddings, and would need to assess whether a proposed location is suitable for a ceremony. Officiants who fail to uphold standards could be deauthorised.
To guard against forced, predatory or sham marriages, couples would still need to complete a two-stage process, including an in-person interview, to verify their identity and demonstrate they are eligible to marry. Anglican banns of marriage, the traditional public announcement of an intended marriage within the Church of England, would continue as part of the established Church under the proposals.
What happens next
The consultation, titled Tying the Knot: Reforming Weddings Law in England and Wales, is open for responses until 24 September 2026. It follows an announcement last year that the government intended to consult on wedding law reform. Any changes arising from the consultation would need further legislation before couples could actually marry in the wider range of locations being proposed, so the current rules on where and how couples can legally marry remain in force for now.
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Frequently asked questions
Has wedding law in England and Wales already changed?
No. The government has launched a consultation, not new legislation. The current rules on where and how couples can legally marry remain in force while the consultation runs until 24 September 2026.
Can couples already get married on a beach or a cruise ship?
Not yet. Weddings must currently take place in a register office or on approved premises such as a licensed venue or place of worship. The consultation proposes widening this, but any change would need further legislation.
How much does the average UK wedding cost?
More than £20,000, according to figures cited by the Ministry of Justice, with venue hire alone typically around £6,000 before catering.
Will the reforms affect religious wedding ceremonies?
The proposals aim to create a consistent legal framework for religious, belief-based and non-religious ceremonies, including allowing interfaith couples to combine both traditions in one legally recognised wedding.
When does the consultation close and what happens next?
The consultation closes on 24 September 2026. The Ministry of Justice will then publish its response, and any resulting changes would need further legislation before couples could legally marry in new types of location.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: Ministry of Justice press release on wedding law reform – accessed 16 July 2026
- GOV.UK: Tying the Knot consultation document – accessed 16 July 2026
- ONS: marriages in England and Wales dataset – accessed 16 July 2026
