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If you’re recently engaged and already juggling venues, guest lists, and approximately 47 tabs open about wedding planning, I promise this isn’t something you need to panic about.
You might have seen some recent news about proposed changes to wedding laws in England and Wales. And while it sounds big and official (because it is), it could actually be really good news for couples.
So let’s break it down: what’s being proposed, what it could mean for you, and why this might be a positive step forward for modern weddings.
The government has announced proposals for the biggest reform to marriage law since the 19th century. That's a long time ago - and also part of the point.
At the moment, getting married in England and Wales is very focused on where you get married. The building itself usually has to be licensed, which is why ceremonies are often limited to specific venues, rooms and formats.
The proposed reforms would shift the focus away from buildings and towards who is legally allowed to conduct the ceremony instead.
In short:
less emphasis on the venue, more emphasis on the ceremony itself.
It’s important to say upfront: this is a proposal, not a change happening tomorrow. But if these reforms go ahead, here’s what they could mean in real-life terms.
Under the proposals, couples could have more flexibility when it comes to ceremony locations, potentially including outdoor spaces, private homes, heritage sites, or places that currently feel off-limits.
This doesn’t mean anywhere goes, but it does mean the system could become more flexible and better suited to how people actually want to get married.
The reforms aim to better support ceremonies that reflect different beliefs, identities, cultures, and values, including non-religious and humanist ceremonies.
For couples who don’t feel fully represented by traditional options, this could mean ceremonies that feel more meaningful and less like a box-ticking exercise.
One of the intentions behind the reform is to simplify a system that many couples find confusing, restrictive, and outdated, especially if they’re planning something even slightly non-traditional.
This wouldn’t happen overnight, but the long-term goal is a fairer and clearer process for couples.
A lot of the confusion around weddings comes from long-standing traditions that don’t always reflect modern couples. I’ve answered some of the most common UK wedding tradition questions here, including what’s optional, flexible, or often misunderstood.
More choice doesn’t automatically mean cheaper weddings, but having more options can help couples make decisions that suit their priorities and budgets, rather than being funnelled into a limited set of venues or formats.
Here are a few examples of how these proposed changes could affect weddings in the future.
Imagine being able to legally marry outdoors (in a garden, woodland, or by the sea) without needing a licensed structure or separate paperwork.
Couples already want this. The law just hasn’t quite caught up yet.
Instead of choosing a venue purely because it’s licensed, couples could choose spaces that reflect who they are, from small family-run venues to meaningful personal locations, without compromising legality.
By focusing more on the officiant than the building, ceremonies could feel more personal, inclusive, and emotionally grounded, especially for non-religious or neurodiverse couples.
When the ceremony feels less like a checklist and more like a shared moment, couples often feel more relaxed, which has a knock-on effect on the rest of the day (and yes, the photos too).
No, absolutely not.
These are proposed changes, not immediate ones. Current wedding laws still apply, and if you’re planning a wedding right now, nothing suddenly becomes invalid or illegal.
If I were you, I'd plan your wedding based on the rules as they stand today. If flexibility and alternative ceremony options matter deeply to you, it’s worth being aware of these discussions, but there’s no need to put your life on hold waiting for change. I'm not!
If in doubt, talk to your venue or registrar if you have questions. Also, focus on how you want your day to feel, not just how it should look (read my other blog about this here). Flexibility is already possible in many ways, even now
From a wedding photographer’s point of view, the idea of couples having more freedom over how and where they get married is genuinely exciting.
Some of the most emotional, joyful weddings I’ve photographed are the ones that let go of rigid expectations and focus on what actually matters to the couple. When people feel comfortable, represented, and relaxed, it shows, not just in the photos, but in the whole day.
More flexibility doesn’t mean less meaningful. If anything, it often means the opposite.
These proposed changes won’t affect every couple, and they won’t happen overnight. But they do signal something positive: weddings slowly becoming more inclusive, more flexible, and more reflective of real people and real relationships.
And honestly? That feels like a step in the right direction.
If you’re planning your wedding and feeling overwhelmed by rules, traditions, or expectations that don’t quite fit, you’re not doing it wrong. The system is just catching up.
Think a creative, animal-loving, story-capturing South Wales photographer is a great fit for your big day? I’d love to chat about your wedding plans and how we can create stunning, candid memories together.
