Marriage law change long overdue

The century-old piece of legislation is in many ways an archaic reflection of a society that has been consigned to the history books.

Currently, it even goes as far as having to leave the door open in case someone wants to come in and object – there is no known case of that having happened.

Public consultation began yesterday on liberalisation after discussions earlier this year with interest groups that included religious representatives as well as the hospitality sector and wedding organisers.

If accepted, the changes would simplify things such as notification periods, how they are published and make the process quicker by not having to turn up in person to give notice.

Provision would be made for legally recognised humanist weddings, meaning couples would not be put through the inconvenience of holding two ceremonies.

Limitations on where people can get married could be lifted to open up an industry for venues – marriages could even take place on beaches or boats.

Not only do the couples and their families benefit, there could be a welcome wider economic boost

People could also be allowed to get married outside the current 8am-3pm window – to do so at the moment needs a special licence.

The current system is overly burdensome and bureaucratic – it needs to be streamlined while keeping some necessary checks in place.

While it does not feature in the consultation, a more efficient system would have welcome cost savings for the public sector too.

Guernsey has fallen behind many other jurisdictions when it comes to how civil ceremonies are conducted. There is a wedding market that it is missing out on, especially considering the obvious attractions that the island has.

It has taken too long to address this issue, but now the opportunity is there to shape a system that is fit for modern times, it should be grabbed quickly.