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Fri, 24 Jul 2026

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 Long overdue, life-changing or frivolous? Your thoughts on wedding rule changes

The government wants to relax wedding laws so couples can get married almost anywhere.

* The government has announced plans to overhaul wedding laws, allowing couples to have more creative and personalized ceremonies.
* The new rules would allow couples to choose who officiates their ceremony, including non-religious celebrants, and what happens during the ceremony itself.
* Critics argue that these changes could dilute the significance of marriage and make it too casual or frivolous.
* Others argue that the changes are necessary to reflect modern relationships and provide more affordable options for couples who want to get married but can't afford a traditional wedding.
* The government has stated that there will be safeguards in place to ensure that the dignity of marriage is preserved, and that ceremonies deemed to be "gimmicks" or trivializing the legal act of marriage would not be allowed. Some quotes from individuals with differing opinions on the proposed changes include:
* Isabel Sinagola, a member of the LGBT community: "This will bring more equality and freedom for couples who want to get married."
* Carl Jones: "It's cheaper if we just have two witnesses, but why should our 12-year-old daughter not be allowed to attend... It's wrong."
* Reverend Tom Kennar: "[The cost of weddings] is the costs of the reception, vehicles, booze, photographers, clothing, food, cars etc. Not marriage itself."
* Zadie Ward, a celebrant: "Modern relationships deserve modern ceremonies." Overall, the article suggests that the proposed changes to wedding laws are likely to be divisive, with some people seeing them as a positive step towards greater equality and flexibility for couples, while others are concerned about the potential impact on the significance of marriage.