A North Yorkshire celebrant who has spent decades campaigning for greater choice in wedding ceremonies has been recognised for his role in helping shape proposed reforms to marriage law. Stuart Morris was invited to join Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy at the launch of the government’s consultation on modernising marriage legislation, marking a milestone in a campaign he has supported for years.
Stuart Morris, 58, from Malham, is the founder of The International College of Professional Celebrants (ICPC), the world’s largest provider of wedding and funeral celebrant training. During the launch on 16 July aboard a boat on the River Thames, Stuart hosted a question-and-answer session with David Lammy as the government unveiled proposals that could deliver the most significant overhaul of marriage law in England and Wales for almost 200 years.
Describing the current legislation, Stuart said: “The law is a patchwork, with parts of it dating back a thousand years.”
His invitation to the event followed years of collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Baroness Levitt through the Wedding Celebrancy Commission, which Stuart helped establish and continues to serve as an executive board member.
The Commission also supported independent research by the Open University to examine what today’s couples expect from their wedding ceremonies and to study countries such as Australia, where independent celebrants have been legally conducting marriages since the 1970s. Those findings helped inform the Law Commission’s 2022 report, which underpins the government’s latest consultation.
Stuart said the current system creates unnecessary restrictions for couples.
“A British couple can legally marry in Las Vegas and have that marriage recognised back home. However, those same people cannot legally marry with an independent celebrant in their own garden or at a countryside venue in Yorkshire. In England and Wales, legal weddings are still largely restricted to registrars and ministers from recognised religious organisations.”
He believes the limitations particularly affect same-sex couples, couples from different faith backgrounds and those who want a ceremony that reflects their personal beliefs.
“Many people end up with a basic legal ceremony because there are so few alternatives. The emphasis has been on administration rather than creating a meaningful experience for the couple. Thankfully, these proposals offer the chance to change that.”
Reflecting on his career, Stuart added: “Thirty years ago I conducted my first funeral for a young woman whose family could not afford to bring her home. It was important to me that she was treated with dignity and compassion. I feel exactly the same responsibility when helping couples celebrate one of the most important days of their lives.”
According to the government, the consultation aims to give couples greater freedom over where and how they marry, reduce costs, strengthen legal safeguards and support businesses within the wedding, hospitality and tourism sectors. Around 470,000 marriages take place each year under legislation that many believe no longer reflects modern society.
The proposed reforms would allow legal ceremonies in a much wider variety of locations, including beaches, forests, canal boats, castles and cruise ships. By moving away from a venue-based system, couples could enjoy greater flexibility while potentially reducing the high cost of weddings, which currently average more than £20,000 in England.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said:
“They say you can’t put a price on love, but too often, the cost of weddings puts this commitment out of reach. That’s why I’m reforming archaic rules, so couples have more freedom to say ‘I do’ on their own terms, while strengthening safeguards to protect the meaning and permanence of marriage.”
The consultation also proposes a fairer legal framework for faith and belief ceremonies, allowing more couples, including those from different religious backgrounds, to celebrate both traditions within one legally recognised ceremony.
Today, Stuart trains celebrants who lead ceremonies for more than one million people every year across the UK. ICPC has around 50 percent more active members than any other celebrancy organisation in the country. His forthcoming book, Hello, I Love You, Goodbye, explores why ceremonies remain such an important part of human life, with the opening chapters now available at hilyg.uk.
The public consultation is now open at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/tying-the-knot-reforming-weddings-law-in-england-and-wales. The consultation will run from July 16 to September 24, lasting 10 weeks.
