Weddings in the open air are here to stay following “overwhelming support” from the public, the government has said.
Special pandemic rules on outdoor ceremonies are to be made permanent from next month, in a move ministers hope will provide a welcome boost for a wedding sector ravaged by lockdowns.
Since last summer, couples have been able to hold their civil wedding or ceremony outside under temporary measures introduced to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Before then, civil ceremonies could only take place outdoors if they were within a permanent structure like a bandstand.
From April the temporary measures will be made permanent at licensed venues following “overwhelming support” from the public, faith groups and the wedding industry, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said.
A Government consultation found that 96% of respondents backed making this change permanent, with 93% supporting extending it to religious weddings, including every major faith group.
Justice Minister Tom Pursglove said: “A wedding is one of the most important days in a person’s life and it is right that couples should have greater choice in how they celebrate their special occasion.
“These reforms will allow couples to hold more personalised ceremonies and provide a welcome boost for the wedding sector.”
The government will also consider the recommendations from a Law Commission review into marriage laws, which is due to be published in July.
The report is looking at how to modernise marriage law, including widening the locations where people can get married and whether more types of weddings should be legalised.