Outdoor weddings are made legal permanently amid ‘overwhelming support’ from the public and religious groups after rules were relaxed during the pandemic
- The Ministry of Justice said there is ‘overwhelming support’ from the public
- Reforms to religious ceremonies are backed and will follow at a later date
- Weddings used to have to take place indoors or a permanent outdoor structure
Outdoor weddings are to be made legal permanently after rules on permitted venues were relaxed during the pandemic.
The Ministry of Justice will announce today that there has been ‘overwhelming support’ for the move from the public, religious groups and the wedding industry.
Strict rules governing where weddings and civil partnership ceremonies could be held were relaxed last summer to make it easier for couples to tie the knot when lockdown restrictions were still in force.
Now, in a rare example of a popular Covid-era law, the change is to be made permanent, a step backed by 96 per cent of respondents to a consultation on the matter.
Reforms to religious ceremonies will follow at a later date, but also received strong backing.
Outdoor weddings are to be made legal permanently after rules on permitted venues were relaxed during the pandemic
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.’
Before rules were relaxed last July, wedding ceremonies had to take place indoors or under a permanent outdoor structure such as a bandstand.
Under the new rules, which come into force in April across England and Wales when the temporary legislation is due to expire, ceremonies can take place entirely outdoors or under a temporary structures.
However, venues must still register to become approved premises in order to host weddings.
In addition, the Ministry of Justice said that ‘the location for the ceremony within the outdoor areas must be assessed to be seemly and dignified’ while ‘other requirements for public access and signage must also be met’.
Before rules were relaxed last July, wedding ceremonies had to take place indoors or under a permanent outdoor structure such as a bandstand
One couple who got married last September in the rose garden of a stately home told the government consultation: ‘We got to have our dream ceremony in our dream location, without feeling like we had to have a “pretend” ceremony outdoors before going and doing the “real” bit inside.’
Last night Jessie Westwood, a wedding planner for Studio Sorores and co-founder of campaign group What About Weddings, told the Mail: ‘I think it’s an extremely positive step that will give people more flexibility. It will also be great for venues.’
She predicted a bumper summer for weddings because so many couples had to postpone ceremonies over the past two years.
‘We are extremely busy with a lot of last-minute enquiries now that things are open again,’ she said.
She said many couples are going ‘bigger and bolder’ this year, wanting larger numbers of guests, more entertainment and even multi-day events.