Wedding Law Reform.
- celebrantcircle
- Aug 22, 2025
- 3 min read
The Fight for Freedom to Marry Your Way
In a House of Lords session on 30 June 2025, Baroness Thornton asked a pointed question: “What progress has been made to enable legal humanist weddings?” Lord Ponsonby, from the Ministry of Justice, acknowledged the strength of feeling around this issue and assured members that officials are working “at pace” and that an update “will come soon.”
However, the tone shifted when the Bishop of Guildford voiced concern that legalising humanist marriages under the current premises-based system might open a path to the commodification of weddings and damage their value.
Celebrants Speak Up
Sonal Dave, a multicultural celebrant based in Harrow, rejected this suggestion:
“I absolutely refute the idea … they are certainly taken as seriously as any other wedding … An individual beliefsystem approach won’t give these couples what they want.”
Another independent celebrant added:
“It is love that is at the heart of any marriage … at any of their ceremonies, love is most definitely all around …”
Another independent celebrant added:
“It is love that is at the heart of any marriage … at any of their ceremonies, love is most definitely all around …”
Why Wedding Law Reform Matters
1. Law Commission Recommendations
Since July 2022, the Law Commission has recommended replacing the outdated, venue-based marriage system with an officiant-led model. This would allow non-religious celebrants to conduct legally binding ceremonies anywhere, giving couples true freedom of choice. The current laws have been described as “unfair and restrictive.”
2. Public Demand Is Clear
More than 10,000 celebrant-led ceremonies are held annually in England and Wales, most led by independent celebrants. With around 44% of the population identifying as non-religious, many couples want meaningful ceremonies that reflect their personal beliefs - without having to separate the legal and celebratory aspects.
3. Promoting Equality in Marriage
Without reform, many couples remain excluded from equal access to legal recognition. The changes proposed would:
Offer more freedom of ceremony location and style
Allow non-religious couples and mixed-faith families full inclusivity
Protect against unregulated or forced marriages.
What’s Happening Politically?
Following Labour’s landslide victory in July 2024, there’s been no explicit policy pledge on marriage reform, though the Law Commission’s proposals align with Labour’s progressive goals.
The Liberal Democrats were the only party to commit clearly to legalising humanist weddings and adopting the Law Commission's recommendations.
The Conservatives, who originally commissioned the legal review in 2015, still include MPs who support reform and could play a role in moving things forward.
How to Support Wedding Law Reform
Supporters of marriage law reform - celebrants, couples, and the wider public - are encouraged to take action:
Contact your MP: Ask when the government will act on the Law Commission’s recommendations.
Request a parliamentary question: Encourage your MP to raise the issue formally in the House.
Tell your story: Share how celebrant-led ceremonies have impacted your life or business.
Attend local events or organise a meeting: The more public awareness, the more political urgency.
In Summary
The current marriage laws in England and Wales are outdated, having changed little since the Victorian era. They restrict where and how couples can legally marry, recognising only religious or registrar-led ceremonies. As a result, many couples—especially those who are non-religious, part of mixed-faith families, or simply seeking a more personal ceremony—are forced to separate their legal marriage from the celebration that truly reflects their beliefs and values.
Reform is urgently needed to introduce an officiant-led model, where independent and humanist celebrants can legally conduct weddings. This would allow couples to marry in the place and style that’s meaningful to them—whether that’s in a garden, on a beach, or blending cultural traditions that matter deeply to them. Legal recognition of celebrant-led ceremonies would ensure genuine equality, greater choice, and a more inclusive approach to modern love and partnership.
Despite recent discussions in Parliament, meaningful change has yet to be enacted. Continued pressure and public support are vital to move these much-needed reforms forward.
Want to make a difference?
Speak to your MP, spread the word on social media, and keep the conversation alive. Every voice adds weight to the movement.
Together, we can ensure that love and choice is truly all around.
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