28. March 2026
Do you think Independent Celebrants should be recognised as legal?
Well, if the answer is yes then you are most definitely in the correct place. Now is the time for change and it couldn't be a more relevant time. Due to the fundamental structure of the wedding law of England and Wales dating back to 1836 and contained within the Marriage Act 1949, when most people shared the same beliefs and traditions, marrying within a single community, it has led to a thorough review being conducted. Not before time!
Now, with multicultural, mixed-faith and secular relationships existing in our diverse society, with a rise in demand for personalised wedding ceremonies, most couples feel that the marriage system currently available is antiquated, unjust and immoral.
The upshot being that in October 2025, after the review by the Law Commission concluding that our wedding law is not meeting the needs of modern couples and that comprehensive reform is needed, 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. This is a great step in the right direction but still does not recognise Independent Celebrants, only Humanist Celebrants as legal.
The public conversation is currently ongoing and with the final changes to the law expected to take effect in 2027, it is paramount that our voices be heard and supported.
Do you want couples to be forced to make the binary option between a secular or non secular marriage should they not adopt the Humanist way of life and Independent Celebrants to not be recognised as legal? Do you want couples to be forced to take the 'Double Cost' option, as they have in the past, because they do not want to opt for a church wedding, a registrar officiant ceremony, or a Humanist Celebrant led ceremony? Do you want couples to have a completely bespoke, personalised ceremony by an Independent Celebrant, who will be able to combine multicultural, mixed-faith beliefs into one ceremony, with the whole of their family taking part interactively as part of the proceedings, on the beach with their family pets present but to pay for the Independent Celebrant led ceremony which is not legally binding and the legal marriage at the registry office too? Not fair, right?
So now it's over to you, and what you can do to help:
write to your local MP, to find them you can search here https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP and you will need to include your full address inclusive of postcode at the top of the letter or email. MP's will only respond to their own constituents and only if the relevant details are included within the letter or email. Your name and the reason you are writing to them is obviously important, keep the details clear and concise, explaining how this will affect you and/or your fellow constituents and/or your local Independent Celebrants who wish to marry in the future. You may even wish to ask for a meeting.
If you have not received a reply within 3 weeks, there is no harm in sending a follow up email.
There are more pointers and a template letter on Give Couples Choice - Give Couples Choice Movement.
Share your support on social media.
Lets make a step together to effect change for the better!
Below are some links to press and blogs from GCCM.
https://gccmovement.org/2026/02/09/5-reasons-why-wedding-law-reform-is-a-vote-winner/
https://gccmovement.org/2026/01/06/wedding-law-reform-will-boost-uk-economy-by-up-to-1-1bn/
https://gccmovement.org/2025/12/09/gccm-launches-policy-paper-on-uk-wedding-law-reform/