Tying the knot: reforming weddings law in England and Wales

Closes 24 Sep 2026

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Chapter 6: Role of Officiants

23. Do you agree that all officiants should have a legal duty to uphold the dignity and significance of marriage?

Please explain your reasoning.

24. Do you agree that organisations should have to be established for a minimum of three years before nominating officiants to conduct legal weddings?

If you disagree with the three-year minimum period suggested above, what period would you propose having instead?

If you disagree with the three-year minimum period and chose a different period, please explain why.

25. Do you agree that for a belief organisation to be able to nominate officiants to carry out legally binding weddings the minimum number of households who are members of that organisation should be 100?

If you disagree with the minimum number of households being 100, what number would you propose having instead?

If you chose a different number, please explain your reasoning.

26. Should the Government have express exclusions on certain groups being precluded from being able to nominate officiants as belief organisations?

If you answered "yes", which of the following groups should be excluded?

If you disagree that there should be express exclusions, please explain your reasoning.

27. Do you agree with allowing independent officiants to conduct legally binding weddings?

Please explain your reasoning.

28. Do you agree with allowing maritime officiants to conduct legally binding weddings on international waters on cruise ships registered in the UK?

Please explain your reasoning.

29. Do you agree that only deck officers should be authorised as maritime officiants, but with a preference for ships captains?

Please explain your reasoning.