The government has launched a consultation on the biggest "shake-up" to wedding law in almost 200 years, which will see couples soon be able to sign their legal documentation in any location of their choosing - rather than just a registrar's office.

Presently, Church of England couples can have the 'legal moment' of their wedding as part of a religious ceremony. However, marriages outside the CofE require legal documents to be signed at a licensed venue. The legal signing itself must not contain any religious element - meaning couples often get legally married in a government building, before having a separate celebration on their wedding day in the venue of their choosing. 

The new plans aim to reduce the overall costs of getting married, which currently sit between £10,000 and in excess of £20,000 for the average UK couple. They will also allow couples the freedom to express their faith through their own choice of music and prayers, even in a non-religious venue. 

The Marriage Foundation has been part of the government's consultation. Director of research, Dr Harry Benson, told Premier Christian News that he hopes more couples will be encouraged to see marriage as a "really good thing". 

"Whatever your background, your probability of staying together - and having reliable love - is significantly higher if you get married. The act of marriage makes a difference," said Benson. 

However, he emphasised that the government's focus should not just be on expanding the accessibility of a typical wedding, but on protecting marriage itself. 

"At the Marriage Foundation, we want to change the atmosphere," he said. "There is a whole psychology around the act of marriage: the proposal, the clarity of the decision, and having people around you... Marriage is a serious business, always has been and always will be."