Could You Soon Say "I Do" Anywhere? What's Really Happening with UK Wedding Law
You may have seen the news on the UK government's recent review of marriage law — many are referring to it as the largest change in more than 200 years. We’re leaning into experts like Guides for Brides who have been present in parliament on this topic. We attended the Guides for Brides Law Reform Proposals webinar (alongside 275 wedding businesses) to find out more. So, let's dig into what this means for you — our couples!
In simple terms, instead of licensing a building, they will license the person marrying you. Celebrants will take a new qualification to become an ‘officiant’ and it will be their job to preauthorise a venue. Licensed wedding venues, like ours, will be perfectly placed to be authorised, we explain why below.
Our idyllic ceremony space by The Watermill alongside our ceremony setup
While we expect couples to look for interesting ceremony spaces elsewhere, it’s worth noting that there are a several things to consider:
Is there a wet weather or extremely hot weather contingency?
Who is setting up your guest seating and the aisle?
Who is helping to usher guests and get everyone seated on time?
Is the space quiet enough to share your vows or do you need to hire a mic and speakers?
Do you have exclusive use of the space or how will you manage interference?
Have you found trusted suppliers who won't let you down on the day?
Licensed venues, previously approved by local councils, have everything in place to carry out ceremonies in a private, civilised and intimate way. We have five licensed outdoor ceremony spaces to choose from as well as two indoor options in the case of bad weather – this means no stress for you on your wedding day. As well as that, we set up your aisle, seating, and sound system ready for your ceremony up to a day before your event, this means florists and stylists have flexible arrival times and plenty of time to get the ceremony ready for your grand entrance.
Let’s face it, it’s not just about the ceremony…after the petals are thrown and the photos are taken, you and your guests will be looking forward to the reception drinks (and canapes!). At licensed venues you can stroll straight to your reception area — our bar team is always ready to serve the first glass of fizz on Mapledurham House lawns. Choosing a ceremony space and wedding reception location close together is something to think about and will require travel to be planned in advance so everyone arrives on time.
Some couples will love the creativity of a unique ceremony space (who wouldn’t want to get married on a boat or beach!) but for others, certainty and professional wedding planning support from venues will continue to be the safest, stress free and seamless option.
“The legal location may become more flexible, but couples still value convenience,
certainty and professional delivery”
- Guides for Brides -
When will this all happen? Being able to be married anywhere is a big deal. As Bridebook suggests, this could be anywhere – a beach, garden, pub, wherever, but this isn’t going to be a quick change. The consultation closes 24 September 2026, butGuides for Brides suggest it'll be business as usual until at least 2028. So, unless you're planning for 2029 and beyond, you still need a licensed venue, a place of worship, or a register office to make it legal.
