when is a good time to get married?
We do not profess to have the relevant expertise in psychology
to answer that question and leave that to others, but can answer it
from a legal perspective.
Why write about it? The law changed on the 1 October 2012.
Before that date under the Marriage Act 1949 and Civil
Partnership Act 2004 couples were only permitted to marry between
the hours of 8am and 6pm. Indeed criminal offences could be
committed where marriages took place in England and Wales outside
those hours, even leaving aside the question of whether such a
marriage was valid.
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 however, those
provision have been repealed. Accordingly you can get married at
whatever time of day, or night, you want. Well, you can as far as
the law is concerned.
In practice however, this relaxation may have little or no
effect. It is reported that the Church of England and Catholic
Church will not conduct evening ceremonies. For civil ceremonies
premises that have Marriage Licences will only be able permit
clients to marry in the evening if the Registrar can be persuaded
to work "out of office" hours.
We are aware some Local Authorities are thinking of extending
the hours the Registrar will work, the latest we have heard is
until midnight. It will be interesting to see how many do and what
the premium fee will be for a ceremony in the evening. Couples
saving the cash on having the traditional afternoon and evening
function however, are bound to see this as attractive
proposition.
Will it ever lead to a Vegas style wedding, impulsive, and often
drink induced, at the end of a night out? Definitely not - the
relevant period for giving notice of intended marriage must still
be given.
