Get hitched at home, in the pub or on the beach under major reforms of marriage laws - but no skydiving or rollercoaster ceremonies allowed

By DAVID BARRETT, HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 22:30, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 22:30, 15 July 2026 Major reform of wedding laws is set to give couples access to 'more affordable' ceremonies, including being able to tie the knot at home, or at a pub, beach or forest. Labour is to update 'archaic' marriage laws to allow far wider range of venues which will no longer have to be pre-approved. Ministers said it could help lower the cost of a wedding – currently £20,000 on average – meaning more couples can afford to get hitched. A consultation paper billed as 'the biggest shake-up of marriage law in almost 200 years' said civil weddings will be permitted in private homes and any 'dignified' setting, whether in a building or the open air. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'Giving couples more choice over where they marry could open up more affordable options, while keeping the lifelong commitment of marriage at the heart of every ceremony.' Weddings will be allowed on boats for the first time, said the paper, published on Thursday. Ceremonies would be allowed on 'narrowboats, river cruise boats and historic or decommissioned ships' as well as 'larger vessels on coastal waters, such as chartered passenger ferries and yachts or sailing boats'. However, it added: 'Settings that require participants to focus on another activity during the ceremony, such as skydiving, white-water rafting, rollercoasters or other amusement rides, will … fall short of the standard.' The proposals are billed 'the biggest shake-up of marriage law in almost 200 years' The only core legal requirements of a civil ceremony, apart from signing the marriage documents, would be expressing consent in front of the officiant and two witnesses, saying: 'I [name] accept you [name] as my [husband / wife / spouse].' Civil ceremonies will be allowed to include religious elements for the first time. For example, it could contain a Bible reading but 'should not replicate the full structure of an Anglican wedding service, such as following the service in the Book of Common Prayer'. The consultation paper added: 'The ceremony must not include elements that are gimmick-based or trivialising and which would detract from the significance of marriage as a legal act 'This would not preclude the inclusion of light-hearted elements such as a reading from Shakespeare, a sing-along to Sweet Caroline or other similar contributions, so long as these remain within the bounds of dignity and do not amount to excessive or inappropriate displays.' It also recommended that no food or drink, including alcohol, should be 'casually/recreationally consumed during the ceremony'. It would mean any marriages held in a pub would have to remain 'dry' until the ceremony concluded. Interfaith ceremonies with religious elements from more than one religion will be allowed for the first time under the proposals. In another first, non-religious belief organisations such as humanists and pagans will be allowed to conduct legally-binding weddings. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: 'They say you can't put a price on love – but too often, the cost of weddings puts this commitment out of reach. 'That's why I'm reforming archaic rules, so couples have more freedom to say 'I do' on their own terms, while strengthening safeguards to protect the meaning and permanence of marriage.' Although outdoor weddings were allowed during the pandemic, with the changes later made permanent, they have to take place in the grounds of premises licensed for weddings. The proposals, based on recommendations from the Law Commission published in 2022, were first floated last October and will apply in England and Wales. The consultation runs until September 24.  The changes will require legislation to be passed by Parliament, so are unlikely to be in force until late next year at the earliest.