Belief in Marriage: The Evidence for Reforming Weddings Law

The book explores the possibility of couples marrying in a way that reflects their beliefs, finding that the current law does not reflect social understandings of what makes a wedding meaningful. Reform is urgently needed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 140 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

EPDF and EPUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.
Couples getting married in England and Wales have the option to do so in a way that aligns with their beliefs, but the extent to which this is possible varies significantly based on their religious or non-religious convictions. To illustrate this divergence, the book draws on the experiences of 170 individuals who have either officiated or participated in a wedding ceremony that deviates from the legal framework. The authors explore what these ceremonies can reveal about couples' preferences for marriage and the aspects of the current law that hinder their ability to marry in a manner that resonates with their beliefs. The findings highlight a significant gap between the current law and social understandings of what constitutes a meaningful wedding. As recommended by the Law Commission, urgent reform is needed to address this discrepancy.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 233 x 157 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529230475