Ministry of Justice commits to Wedding Law reform: what’s next and why it matters

In this briefing, associate Vanessa Opoku outlines the current position and explains what reform will entail and why it is significant.

Under current laws, weddings can only take place, with very few exceptions, in a register office, a place of worship, or a venue approved for civil weddings, with limited scope for outdoor ceremonies. If couples fail to comply with these requirements (as is sometimes the case with some religious ceremonies) their marriage may not be legally recognised. Many only discover their lack of legal status and legal protection when their relationship ends, either by separation or bereavement. 

The Law Commission were initially tasked with the review of the law governing how and where people can marry in England and Wales in 2014. In 2015 the Law Commission produced a scoping paper which identified the need for a full review of the law. The government commissioned a reform project in 2018. On 19 July 2022 the Law Commission published their final report setting out their final recommendations for reform. 

On 2 October 2025, the government announced plans for the biggest overhaul to wedding laws since the 19th century, which will ensure wedding ceremonies reflect the change in modern society.

The reforms will shift regulation from buildings to officiants (i.e. who conducts the ceremony), This will mean that restrictions on where weddings can take place can be removed, subject to strict regulations ensuring that they remain dignified.

Couples will be able to marry in a wider range of venues such as, beaches, private gardens, heritage sites, and community centres, so long as venues meet standards of dignity and safety.  Thus, increasing the affordability of weddings for the masses.

The reforms will permit legally binding religious ceremonies in the UK to take place, including Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu weddings, which currently require a subsequent civil wedding to occur after a religious ceremony in order to obtain legal recognition.

For the first time in England & Wales, humanist marriages may also gain legal recognition under these reforms.  

The changes aim to modernise outdated laws, giving couples more freedom and fairness in how they marry whilst protecting and preserving the dignity of weddings.

The government estimates the reform could add £535 million to the economy over the next ten years and create around 12,000 new jobs.  

A public consultation is set for 2026, and legislation will follow when parliamentary time allows.  

If you are planning on getting married and would like to speak to one of our specialist family lawyers about a pre-nuptial agreement, please contact us.