Wedded to the idea of more choice

The law has been tinkered with over the decades but now badly needs a wholesale rethink to reflect modern society.

That desire for change is reflected in the overwhelming results of a consultation that took place this summer.

Rarely has the island seemed as united as it is on many of changes mooted by Policy & Resources.

An impressive 96%, for example, agree that marriage ceremonies should be able to take place in more locations than the current offering of churches and a handful of civic locations such as St James, Sausmarez Manor and the Greffe.

Over half would go further and let the happy couple have complete freedom of choice over their venue.

More than 9 out of 10 islanders also want the bride and groom to be able to have a non-religious celebrant conduct their wedding, although a substantial majority insist that the celebrant should have to pass some form of standards or qualification.

As one wag commented in the survey, ‘It can’t just be your Aunty Mary’.

There are other concerns, some of which seem distant for this island but are important nonetheless, such as putting in barriers to prevent forced or sham marriages.

But overall the mood of the 361 respondents – more than a third of whom were in the prime wedding age of 20-35 – was for wholesale liberalisation.

It is vital that the island captures that spirit. It is one of the most important days in many people’s lives and there is clearly a sense that an antiquated law is getting in the way.

One respondent wrote: ‘We were unable to have the marriage we wished due to the law. Hopefully, this will change for couples in the future.’

If that means weddings on a beach at sunrise reading out vows written by the lovestruck pair or exchanging rings of seaweed in a fishing boat off the west coast at sunset then so be it.

If couples want to formalise their commitment the least the island can do is make that process as easy and personal as possible.