Some friends wanted to get married on a beach. In England we don’t allow that. So they travelled abroad. We don’t allow getting married anywhere outdoors. How weird is that?

Why would the state want to specify that civil weddings and partnerships can only take place in a few very restricted places. I guess our national politicians still feel beholden to making civil weddings feel as close to the style of a state religion wedding as possible. Good luck to those that want to become married via their religion but as a society we really should give people freedom to express this as personally and meaningful a way as they want.

For me my civil wedding would have felt as loving, passionate and sincere in a garden, woods, on a beach, or on a mountain, as it felt in a licensed venue for civil weddings.

Can you imagine getting married in Dulwich Woods, Stave Hill in Russia Dock Woodlands or one of our several Green Flag parks.