COUPLES will be able to marry outdoors as ministers tear up wedding red tape.
Before Covid, ceremonies had to take place indoors or within a permanent outdoor structure such as a bandstand.
The rules have been relaxed during the pandemic and from April 6 al fresco weddings — complete with dodgy weather — are here to stay in England and Wales after the public supported the change.
A government consultation found that 96 per cent backed making the change permanent, while 93 per cent supported extending it to religious weddings.
Justice Minister Tom Pursglove said: “It is right that couples should have greater choice in how they celebrate their special occasion.
“These reforms will allow couples to hold more personalised ceremonies and provide a welcome boost for the wedding sector.”
One Cotswolds-based wedding planner, Jessie Westwood, said: “It’s a welcome move towards more flexibility in respecting couples’ wishes.
“More and more people have always wanted to do outdoor ceremonies.”
