The week in which we “hit the ground” with an early post on the Law Commission Report on weddings

Reforming weddings law (I)

On Wednesday, the Law Commission published its final proposals for reforming weddings law in England & Wales. To no one’s surprise, the Commission has recommended root-and-branch reform: in particular, a move away from the requirement to be married in a registered building in favour of weddings conducted by registered officiants – as in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where registered celebrants conduct weddings.

The next move is up to the Government – but there cannot be many who seriously believe that the current law is satisfactory. (And for some background on how we got here, see Rebecca Probert*, Journal of Legal History: Secular or Sacred? The Ambiguity of ‘Civil’ Marriage in the Marriage Act 1836.) Continue reading →