1949 Marriage Act on church weddings set to change and about time too!
Those of you who want a church wedding in the parish you grew up in may have been thwarted in recent years by an old law that prohibits couples from marrying in a place they don’t currently reside. Many think this is unfair due to rocketing house prices forcing them out. Even connections such as parents living in the area aren’t viewed as ‘strong enough’ by some ministers.
Fortunately, the 1949 Marriage Act is set to change this year. Instead, we’ll have a Church of England Marriage Measure. This means if the church has “special meaning” to you it should be easier for you to get wed there. I predict a rise in church weddings from next year – will you be one of them?
Related: It’s still ‘in’ to get married in church finds survey I Church Wedding or Civil Ceremony? I More venues
Elizabethan mansion Wakehurst Place, managed by Kew and located four miles away from the famous gardens at Ardingly, West Sussex, is licenced for marriages and civil partnerships. Set amidst 300 acres, there’s ornamental gardens, water features and natural woodlands. They can accomodate packages of ceremony and reception with a selection of local, seasonal table and buffet menus created by their caterers.
Brigit Sapstead’s second guest blog on the trials of planning her wedding…
Finding a venue can be a time consuming task, especially when you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for. So, naturally, I’m pleased to see a new site catering not only for weddings but for all kinds of events. It’s simple to use, just click on the region to bring up a list of venues along with details of what facilities from whether they hold a civil licence or reception only along with capacities, bar and catering facilities. Go to 
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