Rejected petition: Adopt Scotland’s wedding model in England & Wales
Rejected on
England & Wales still limit legal weddings to licensed venues or registrars. Scotland licenses celebrants, so couples can marry at meaningful locations. We want the same: authorise trained independent celebrants and allow legal weddings anywhere safe, fair, and dignified. Boosting local economies.
Adopt Scotland’s officiant-based model. Let couples marry where their love has meaning—homes, gardens, hospices, community spaces—while keeping safeguards: notice, ID checks, two witnesses, and records. Licensing celebrants (trained, insured) cuts red tape, lowers costs, widens access, and drives spend across local venues, hospitality and creative suppliers, supporting the visitor economy year-round. It helps rural and urban areas alike, encouraging midweek weddings and sustainable growth.
Why was this petition rejected?
We can't publish petitions when the request is something that's already happening or something that has been announced since you started your petition.
We think your petition is covered by Government or Parliament action already. If you'd like something else, you could start a new petition clearly explaining what it is.
On 2 October 2025, the Ministry of Justice announced reforms to marriage law: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-to-economy-through-wedding-law-reform
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.