At present, the wedding law of England and Wales is contained in the Marriage Act 1949, but its fundamental structure dates back to 1836 – a time when virtually everyone married within a single community and most people shared the same traditions and beliefs. 

As society has become more diverse – with mixed-faith, multicultural and secular relationships being commonplace – and with the growth in demand for personalisation around wedding celebrations, many couples feel that the current system no longer meets their values or needs. 

These views were reflected in a thorough review conducted by the Law Commission, which concluded that our wedding law is not meeting the needs of modern couples and that comprehensive reform is needed. After several years of research and consultation, the Law Commission published its final recommendations for wedding law reform in 2022. 

Then, in October 2025, the UK Government confirmed that they would move forward with wedding law reform along the lines proposed by the Law Commission – but with the inclusion of independent celebrants still to be debated. 

When the Government reforms wedding law in England and Wales, they have confirmed we will move to an ‘officiant-based system’. So instead of approved buildings, we’d have approved people. This scheme would be similar to many others operating around the world, e.g. in Australia, Canada and the Channel Islands. 

They have also confirmed that Humanist Celebrants approved by Humanists UK will be included within this new legal structure, but that still leaves a huge gap for couples who do not identify as Humanist, or with any other one belief system. Due to the diversity of society, the demand for independent celebrants outnumbers the demand for humanist celebrants by approximately 10:1. 

Independent celebrants are self-employed, professional officiants who are not tied to a religious institution or belief system. They offer couples highly personalised and meaningful ceremonies, but currently couples are required to complete the legal formalities of their marriage elsewhere (usually at the register office). 

In contrast to humanist celebrants who represent humanism as a belief system, independent celebrants can adapt ceremonies to the beliefs and values of each couple. One key demographic that independent celebrants are uniquely placed to serve is couples of mixed faiths or undefined beliefs. These are by no means minority groups – 37% of people now identify as non-religious (compared to the 5-7% who readily identify as humanist), and mixed-faith relationships are common in modern society. 

This is why so many believe that independent celebrants must be included as authorised marriage officiants within the new marriage laws.

For you as an engaged couple, this could mean the chance to have a wedding day that truly reflects you — your story, your beliefs, your family, your values. A day where legal formality and emotional meaning are woven together, not split into two parts.

But that only happens if you raise your voice now. The public consultation will be a crucial step in determining the finer details of our new wedding law – including whether independent celebrants will be part of it – and we need this to go forward without further delay.

The Government says it will reform the law “when Parliamentary time allows”, and first there are some key details that need to be decided on. A key question that the “early 2026” consultation will focus on is “whether independent celebrants should be allowed to conduct legally binding weddings.”

We do not yet have a set date for the launch of this consultation, and we do not know how long it will be open for. We need more clarity on this from MPs – and we need them to understand the strength of demand for this legal change. That’s why we need your support via the Give Couples Choice Movement. 

At the Give Couples Choice Movement (GCCM), we’re campaigning for the inclusion of independent celebrants in wedding law reform. In December 2025 we published a policy paper entitled Reforming Weddings Law to Give Couples Choice: The case for including independent celebrants in wedding law reform, which sets out the current law reform status and makes an evidence-based case for why independent celebrants should be included as authorised officiants.

So if you believe in the right to a fully personal, meaningful, and legally recognised wedding – and want to help shape the future law – here’s how you can help:

• Write to your MP: Tell them why moving forward with law reform and including independent celebrants matters to you – perhaps it’s because you come from a mixed-faith or inter-cultural background, or because you simply want freedom over your ceremony.
• Share your story: If you’ve had or plan to have a celebrant-led wedding, share why flexibility matters by completing our couples survey – plus share your views on social media. Don’t forget to tag us!
• Support organisations leading the campaign: The GCCM is campaigning and gathering support ahead of the 2026 consultation. Join the movement to help amplify their voice (it’s free)!

Guidance on writing to your MP

MPs will be the final decision-makers on how quickly this reform moves and whether or not independent celebrants will be included. They will be guided by the outcome of the public consultation and by the views of their constituents. 

So your voice matters! 

We suggest writing to your MP as soon as possible if you’d like to see progress on law reform ahead of your wedding – and to support all couples who will marry in the future. 

While it’s best to write a personalised letter to your MP explaining why this reform matters to you, we appreciate this can be a daunting task – so we have put together some guidelines on how to find and contact your local MP, along with a template letter for you to adapt to your needs. Just click the button below to get started!