Changes to wedding marriage certificate requirements

signing resister

In England and Wales, the law requires all marriages to be registered once they have taken place; the system for registering marriages is currently paper-based and prescribed particulars to be registered for a marriage include details of the father but not the mother of each of the parties to the marriage.
Calls have been made, both inside and outside of Parliament, for the law to be changed to enable the details of both parents of the parties to the marriage to be included on marriage certificates.
Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we think it's a great step forward in looking at changing some of the more outdated traditions of weddings and marriages and making them more relevant and reflective of the 21st century.
Subject to the approval of draft regulations which have been laid before Parliament, the Government intends that a new system of marriage registration will be implemented on 4 May 2021 and that the particulars to be registered for a marriage will be updated.
Until now, the document only included the names of the fathers of the couple, but a change to the Marriage Act means both parents will be included.
Marriages will also be recorded electronically, rather than written in a registry book, as part of the biggest changes to the system since 1837.
The Government intends that guidance for couples getting married will be published on the Gov.UK website before the new system is introduced.

You may also be interested in

Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions

Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions

As the events sector continues to evolve, 2026 is set to mark a clear turning point for UK venues. Leading event booking platform Tagvenue has released its predictions for how the UK events and hospitality sector will evolve in 2026, pointing to a decisive shift away from scale, standardisation and fixed packages, and towards experience-led formats, wellbeing and clearer communication of value. Drawing on booking behaviour across thousands of UK venues, alongside insights from independent hospitality operators, Tagvenue predicts that the most successful event spaces in 2026 will be those that combine strong identity with flexibility, visual appeal and transparency around pricing and experience.

READ ARTICLE

Experts Warn Against Using AI for Wedding Vows

Experts Warn Against Using AI for Wedding Vows

With peak wedding season approaching, experts are warning couples not to rely on AI to write one of the most personal parts of their big day – their vows. A survey by jewellers Queensmith has revealed that more than half (55%) of UK brides and grooms are now using AI tools to help write their wedding vows and speeches, raising questions about authenticity, originality and even potential legal grey areas. The findings come amid a growing debate around AI-written vows after a registrar in the eastern Netherlands saw a marriage called into question when AI was used to help write the ceremony script. In the case, the District Court of Overijssel ruled that "no marriage has been established" after it emerged the registrar had relied on ChatGPT to draft parts of the ceremony. The case has sparked wider concerns that AI-generated wording could unintentionally mirror existing vows or scripts found online, raising questions about originality and authenticity.

READ ARTICLE

Marriage, Money, and Modern Love: Gen Z and Millennials

Marriage, Money, and Modern Love: Gen Z and Millennials

"As a family barrister, I spend much of my professional life dealing with what happens when relationships break down," says Rosanne Godfrey-Lockwood, Family Barrister at 4PB. "That vantage point inevitably shapes how I think about marriage — not cynically, but realistically. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that one of the most notable trends I have observed in recent years is the growing interest in prenuptial agreements among Gen Z and younger Millennial couples.

READ ARTICLE

Win an Engaged Couple a Dublin Minimoon with GoHen & StagWeb

Win an Engaged Couple a Dublin Minimoon with GoHen & StagWeb

Leading UK stag and hen party providers, StagWeb and GoHen, have launched a brand-new competition offering one lucky engaged couple the chance to win a Dublin minimoon - completely free. Whether it's a little pre-wedding trip to escape the planning stress or a post-wedding adventure before the honeymoon, it could be the perfect little wedding gift for the happy couple - read here now!

READ ARTICLE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on Facebook

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on Instagram

VISIT SITE

Subscribe to Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE