Wedding law reform – new opportunities for hospitality venues

Nichola Evans, Partner

The Government has just launched a consultation to reform wedding law. This is good news for the hospitality industry and we would urge people to respond to the consultation. Previously the law has been focused on the bricks and mortar whereas these proposals shift the attention to the officiant meaning that weddings would be able to take place in some very different settings with the Government saying that “couples could legally marry almost anywhere, from forests and beaches to castles and canal boats, and even cruise ships at sea”.

470,000 people get married in England and Wales every year but a significant percentage of unmarried couples say that they would like to get married but cite the cost of getting married as the reason they do not or more accurately cannot.

If the reforms take place many more venues will be made available to conduct wedding ceremonies – giving venues more opportunities to generate income.