Proposed reforms to wedding laws in England and Wales could allow couples to legally marry onboard boats while afloat, opening up new business opportunities for the UK leisure marine sector.
British Marine has welcomed the UK Government's launch of a consultation on what it describes as the biggest overhaul of wedding legislation in almost 200 years.
The proposals would move regulation away from licensed buildings and instead focus on authorised officiants, potentially allowing legal wedding ceremonies to take place onboard canal boats, passenger vessels and yachts, whether moored or underway.
The consultation was highlighted during a visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy to British Marine member Hobbs of Henley on the River Thames on Thursday (16 July).
"They say you can't put a price on love – but too often, the cost of weddings puts this commitment out of reach," Lammy said.
"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."
British Marine says the announcement follows more than six years of engagement with the Government and the Law Commission over legislation that has prevented legal wedding ceremonies from taking place onboard vessels unless they are permanently moored.
The trade association first engaged with the Law Commission in 2019 during its review of marriage law and subsequently hosted a roundtable with members of its Passenger Boat Association in 2020.
The Law Commission's 2022 report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, recommended moving away from restrictions based on licensed buildings and allowing weddings in suitable locations approved by an authorised officiant.
British Marine Director of Member Services Brian Clark said the proposed reforms could enable operators to offer wedding experiences while cruising on waterways including the River Thames and Lake Windermere, as well as onboard charter yachts around the British coastline.
"The reforms will be a great boost to the UK's leisure marine sector, enabling operators to expand their offer to include unique wedding experiences whilst cruising in some of our most iconic waters," Clark said.
He said the changes could create new revenue streams for an industry which British Marine estimates contributes more than £17 billion annually to the UK economy.
Jonathan Hobbs, Managing Director of Hobbs of Henley, said the company's wedding business had declined over the past 20 years as couples increasingly sought venues where both the legal ceremony and reception could be held.
"The amount of wedding business we have lost when couples discover the legal ceremony cannot take place onboard has been considerable," he said.
"These reforms will allow operators like ourselves to offer exactly the experience today's couples are looking for and provide a welcome boost to the passenger boat industry at a difficult time for hospitality."
The UK Government consultation runs for ten weeks and is due to close on 24 September 2026.
