Junior Rasmussen
Humanist weddings have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005, in Northern Ireland since 2018, and in several other countries including New Zealand, Canada, and Australia, Jersey, and Guernsey. However, in England and Wales, there is currently no legal recognition of humanist weddings. This has been a topic of debate, with some arguing that the lack of legal recognition is discriminatory against those who want a non-religious ceremony. In 2020, the High Court ruled that the lack of legal recognition in England and Wales was discriminatory, and there have been calls for the government to act quickly to legalise humanist weddings. While the future legalisation of humanist weddings in England seems likely, there is still no exact timeline or date for when this will occur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current legal status in England | Not legally recognised |
| Public opinion | 69% in favour, 12% opposed |
| Religious groups' opinion | Not opposed |
| Legal status in Scotland | Legally recognised since 2005 |
| Legal status in Northern Ireland | Legally recognised since 2018 |
| Legal status in other countries | Legally recognised in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey |
| Legal status in Sark | Recognition is on its way |
| Legal status in the Isle of Man | Not legally recognised |
| Law Commission's recommendation | Legal recognition |
| Government's response | Considering wholesale reform of marriage law |
| Expected timeline | Unclear |
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What You'll Learn
- Humanist weddings are legal in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and elsewhere
- The UK government is urged to give legal recognition to humanist weddings
- The Law Commission's 2022 report recommended legal recognition of humanist weddings
- The Marriage Act 2013 created a new category of legally recognised marriage
- Couples take the government to court over failure to legalise humanist weddings
Humanist weddings are legal in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and elsewhere
Humanist weddings are not currently legally recognised in England, despite campaigns for reform. In 2020, the High Court ruled that the lack of legal recognition for humanist weddings in England and Wales was discriminatory, but as of 2025, the government is still considering the issue.
However, humanist weddings are legal in Scotland and have been since 2005. Humanist weddings are performed by celebrants trained by Humanist Society Scotland, and in 2022, there were 9,140 humanist wedding ceremonies in Scotland.
Humanist weddings are also legally recognised in Northern Ireland, as well as other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, and US states. In Northern Ireland, celebrants who are members of the Humanist Ceremonies™ network can conduct legal ceremonies and complete the legal documentation. In the Republic of Ireland, the Humanist Association of Ireland manages its own network of humanist ceremonies, which have been legally recognised since 2012. In Canada, humanist weddings are conducted under the auspices of the national Humanist Canada group or through one of the province-level groups. In the US, humanist celebrants are generally categorised as "clergy" and have the same rights as ordained clergy.
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The UK government is urged to give legal recognition to humanist weddings
The UK government is facing mounting pressure to give legal recognition to humanist weddings in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Humanist marriages have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005 and in Northern Ireland since 2018. In these regions, humanist weddings are performed by celebrants trained by organisations such as Humanist Society Scotland and Humanist Ceremonies™.
In England, Wales, and the Isle of Man, however, couples wishing to have a humanist wedding must also undergo a separate civil marriage to be legally wed. This additional step creates an unnecessary financial burden and detracts from the significance of the humanist ceremony, which couples often consider their "real" wedding. The lack of legal recognition for humanist weddings in these regions has been deemed discriminatory by Mrs Justice Eady of the High Court, who ruled in 2020 that the then justice secretary, Robert Buckland, "cannot simply sit on his hands."
Public sentiment also appears to support legal recognition of humanist weddings in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man. A 2019 poll found that 69% of respondents were in favour of legal recognition, with only 12% opposed. Furthermore, religious groups have expressed their support, with the Church of England stating that "it can be beneficial for a couple if their wedding is presided over by a celebrant who shares their faith or beliefs."
In response to the growing calls for change, the UK government has indicated that it will consider the Law Commission's recommendations for reform of marriage laws. The Law Commission published a 400-page report in July 2022, recommending that humanist marriages be legally recognised. While the government has declined to implement interim measures, such as laying an Order under the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, it has stated that it will set out its position in due course.
Despite the lack of legal recognition in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man, humanist weddings can still be performed in these regions. Humanist celebrants can help couples craft a personalised and meaningful ceremony that reflects their humanist beliefs and values. While the legal status of these weddings is still pending, couples can obtain a statutory legal registration from their local register office, ensuring their union is officially recognised.
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The Law Commission's 2022 report recommended legal recognition of humanist weddings
In 2022, the Law Commission published its review of weddings law in England and Wales, marking the end of nine years' worth of reviews into humanist marriages. While the Law Commission's report does not explicitly recommend legal recognition of humanist weddings, it provides a framework that could facilitate such recognition.
The report draws a distinction between civil weddings, conducted by independent celebrants, and belief weddings, conducted by religious or belief organisations. This distinction introduces different requirements for independent and belief celebrants. For example, independent celebrants would need to ensure that the couple expresses their consent using specific words, while there is no such requirement for belief weddings. The report also emphasises that any officiant should only be authorised in one category at a time and that a nominated officiant should only be permitted by one organisation.
The Law Commission's report has been interpreted as a delaying tactic by the government, which has yet to take a clear stance on the legal recognition of humanist weddings. However, the High Court has ruled that the lack of legal recognition for humanist weddings in England and Wales is discriminatory. Humanists UK has called upon the government to act without further delay, citing strong public support for legal recognition, with 69% in favour and only 12% opposed.
While the Law Commission's report does not make explicit recommendations for the legal recognition of humanist weddings, it provides a basis for potential inclusion if the government decides to recognise humanist weddings as a matter of policy. The report's framework ensures that any new scheme developed by the government can include humanist weddings, preventing unfairness and discrimination.
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The Marriage Act 2013 created a new category of legally recognised marriage
In England and Wales, the Marriage Act 2013 created a new category of legally recognised marriage, "marriages according to the usages of belief-based organisations". This category was created by the UK Parliament to enable the legal recognition of humanist marriages by secondary legislation. However, as of 2025, there is still no legal recognition of humanist weddings in England, Wales, or the Isle of Man. This has led to campaigns and legal action by Humanists UK and couples who wish to be married in line with their humanist beliefs.
Humanist marriages are legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey, as well as in the Republic of Ireland and other countries such as New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. In Scotland, where humanist marriages have been legal since 2005, they have become the number one choice for couples, accounting for over 20% of all marriages.
The lack of legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales has been deemed discriminatory by the high court in 2020 and by Mrs Justice Eady, who stated that the situation "gave rise to discrimination". In 2019, a poll showed strong public support for legal recognition in England and Wales, with 69% in favour and just 12% opposed. Religious groups, including the Church of England, have also expressed support for the legal recognition of humanist marriages.
Humanist weddings are non-religious ceremonies that are deeply personal and conducted by a humanist celebrant. They differ from civil weddings in that they are entirely handcrafted and reflective of the humanist beliefs and values of the couple. Couples who choose to have a humanist ceremony often consider it their real" wedding, as it is attended by their loved ones and includes personal and heartfelt vows.
The UK government is expected to announce plans for an overhaul of marriage laws, which may include allowing weddings to take place at a variety of venues. While this is a positive step, humanists are concerned that implementing a major shake-up could take years, and they are calling on the government to act quickly to legalise humanist ceremonies.
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Couples take the government to court over failure to legalise humanist weddings
In 2025, two couples took the UK government to court over its failure to legalise humanist weddings in England and Wales. Terri O'Sullivan and Edd Berrill from Coventry, and Nicole Shasha and Rory Booth from Leicester, are preparing to go to court in their fight to be married in line with their humanist beliefs. O'Sullivan said, "It's insulting that we've got to try to prove our beliefs are valid to have them recognised".
Humanist weddings are legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and several other countries, including New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. In 2022, there were 9,140 humanist wedding ceremonies in Scotland, compared to 8,072 based on faiths or other beliefs. In Northern Ireland, the number of humanist marriages has skyrocketed since gaining legal recognition in 2018.
In England and Wales, the Marriage Act 2013 created a new category of legally recognised marriage – "marriages according to the usages of belief-based organisations". This category was created to allow the government to enact legal recognition of humanist marriages by secondary legislation. However, as of 2025, there is still no recognition of humanist weddings in these countries.
In 2020, the High Court ruled that the lack of legal recognition for humanist weddings in England and Wales was discriminatory. Mrs Justice Eady stated that the justice secretary "cannot simply sit on his hands". Despite this ruling, humanist weddings still remain unrecognised in England and Wales. Humanists UK has expressed disappointment at the government's delay in resolving this issue, calling for quicker action to legalise humanist ceremonies.
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Frequently asked questions
No, humanist weddings are not currently legally recognised in England.
Humanist weddings have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005, and in Northern Ireland since 2018. They are also legally recognised in Jersey, Guernsey, and the Republic of Ireland.
The Marriage Act 2013 created a new category of legally recognised marriage in England and Wales – 'marriages according to the usages of belief-based organisations'. However, the government has not yet enabled non-religious belief organisations to conduct legally binding weddings.
It seems likely that humanist weddings will be legal in England in the future. In 2020, the High Court ruled that the lack of legal recognition for humanist marriage in England and Wales was discriminatory. Humanists UK and other organisations have long campaigned for legal recognition, and a 2019 poll showed 69% public support for this in England and Wales. The government is expected to announce plans for an overhaul of marriage laws, which may include legal recognition of humanist weddings.
