How did Civil Ceremonies come about?
What do you need to know about the legal requirement of a Civil Marriage?
Ask me any questions you need to know!
Civil marriages have been available in the UK for several hundred years and can be evidenced as far back as the 1800s. In 1836 The Marriage Act allowed civil marriages; although they had to be held in register offices. This allowed more freedom for a marriage to take place in the form of symbolic ceremony, in a place of choice, having adhered to the legal requirements. This gave the freedom to marry and meet the legal requirements without religious affiliation and the option to have a larger, celebratory event to suit their personal beliefs at a later time.
The 19th Century saw a change in beliefs and attitudes becoming more relaxed about church marriages, although they were still customary, people were starting to explore a less formal or religious option. Also, for some people it could have been a question of the expense involved in a large, church ceremony which could be overwhelming and for some, unnecessary. The need to have a more relaxed and personalised service, which reflected lifestyle and expectation in how people wanted to mark and remember their special day, became a possibility with the introduction of Civil Ceremonies.
The concept of the Civil Ceremony was developed in Australia and developed in the 1970s as an alternative to the available choices. Up until then the options were; either a very basic Registry office ceremony or a full church wedding with all the ritual and expense attached to it. Not everyone would be able to have or wish an elaborate or necessarily official ceremony. A brief registry wedding could not provide a spiritual experience as they lacked an emotional element and people began to wish for a more emotional experience without the constriction of organized religion.
The Attorney General in Australia created legislation in 1973 allowing this new style of marriage to be performed by a Civil Celebrant. Even though it was developed in Australia Civil marriages were ‘few and far between’ in the UK. Here in the UK even at the beginning of the 21st century there were very few Civil Celebrants but are becoming more popular as spiritual and more liberal celebrations are becoming popular.
Since the marriage act of 1994 which permitted local authorities to allow weddings to be held in premises approved by the local council lifted restrictions on venues and locations. As long as requirements were made by submitting official documents and being legally married by the registrar the ceremony could be held at any approved premises. People were able to marry in places such as Hotels and sports venues which meant the demand for Civil Celebrants increased and it became more viable a s a profession in the UK.
By 2012, however, 70% of all weddings were civil marriages, with 85% of those in Approved Premises, and religious marriages lagged behind at 30% – the smallest proportion recorded since national marriage registration began in 1837. In 2012, 85% of civil marriages were in Approved Premises, such as hotels, castles, stately homes or sports and leisure centres.
MM The Celebrant 