Deputy Louise Doublet has called for legislation to be brought in so that outdoor weddings and non-religious humanist weddings are recognised as legal marriages in the Island.
- In 2013, there were 341 civil wedding ceremonies in Jersey compared to 148 religious ones.
- Since 2012 there have been nine humanist weddings in Jersey despite their lack of legal recognition.
- In Scotland, the number of humanist weddings has increased sharply since legal recognition in 2005, from fewer than 100 to more than 3,000 per year. It is reported that up to a quarter of couples from elsewhere in the UK travel to Scotland to have a legally recognised humanist ceremony.[/breakout]
Currently, people can only marry in places where there is a permanent structure – such as in a religious building, registry office or in a specially registered non-religious venue. Outside areas such as the grounds of Mont Orgueil Castle are also allowed as they are within a permanent structure.
However, the St Saviour Deputy says that extending the rights to all open air venues would help tourism by increasing the number of people who travel to the Island to get married, and could potentially boost the number of marriages over all.
In a proposition Deputy Doublet says that currently many locations that hold a ‘special significance for Islanders are off-limits for weddings because they are not covered by a roof’.
‘Many couples who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle together on our beautiful beaches are forced to travel to another country for their ideal wedding,’ the proposition added.
‘Opening up our beaches and other locations would give Jersey couples the freedom and choice to celebrate at a far wider selection of locations which have meaning for them.’
Like Jersey, the law in Britain states that ceremonies may only take place in a ‘permanent covered building’.
Deputy Doublet said that at a time when Jersey was trying to diversify its economy, growing wedding tourism would benefit Island businesses including hotels, restaurants and photographers.
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In 2001, the Tourism Committee lodged an amendment to the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001, seeking to legalise open-air marriage. Deputy Doublet said that the amendment failed over concerns it could reduce the solemnity of marriage and due to fears that the public would be unable to access the venue to express objections – for example to stop a forced marriage – if necessary.
However, in her amendment Deputy Doublet says these issues could be overcome by adopting procedures similar to ones found in Scotland where requirements state that an outside wedding location must be ‘safe and dignified’ and must be accurately described on the marriage application.
Meanwhile, Deputy Doublet’s proposition says that humanist weddings – non-religious ceremonies for those who believe that science provides the only reliable source of knowledge – would be ‘popular’, boost tourism and be in keeping with ‘Jersey’s reputation as a progressive, innovative jurisdiction’.
The proposition is due to be debated on 8 September.
‘The Council of Ministers are taking the opportunity to review our marriage laws following the equal marriage consultation. I want to add 2 further considerations which were not on the options paper: humanist weddings and open-air weddings.
‘In terms of allowing humanist marriage this is a matter of equality and freedom of belief, and for open-air marriage it is simply sensible to consider it now while the laws are being worked on.
‘This is an opportunity to really make Jersey’s marriage laws the best they can be in terms of practicality, choice, fairness and opportunities for our economy.’
Humanist Weddings
The proposal would allow humanist weddings to be recognised as legal marriages in Jersey, as they are in Scotland.
In Scotland, the number of humanist weddings has increased sharply since legal recognition to over 3000 in each year, with many couples travelling from elsewhere in the UK to have a legally recognised humanist ceremony.
The recent consultation on equal marriage in Jersey found a significant amount of support for humanist marriage.
Furthermore, the legal recognition of humanist weddings is in keeping with the principles expressed in the Chief Minister’s response to the consultation, which called upon the States of Jersey to ‘support marriage in all its forms’.
Humanist marriages are distinct from civil ceremonies, and would grant humanist couples the same choice religious people have of a meaningful ceremony composed by a person who shares their values and approach to life.
The legal recognition of humanist marriages would be just and fair, meeting genuine public
Open-air Weddings
The proposal would allow outdoor weddings to be conducted in Jersey, administered in such a way as the Minister believes to be practical.
Similar jurisdictions such as Scotland and New Zealand already allow this very successfully as well as many other locations worldwide.
Giving couples more freedom to marry in a location of their choosing will strengthen marriage in line with the Chief Minister’s statements.
A FORMER Guernsey student turned back the clock 5,000 years in 2014 when he tied the knot in a pagan wedding ceremony.
Gavin Marley, 36, and his new bride, Jerusha, 30, pictured, said ‘I do’ in a traditional Irish handfasting ceremony on Trawalua beach in Ireland.
The tree surgeon, who represented Guernsey in the 800m at the Island Games, left the island aged 21.
He moved to his wife’s native home five years ago.
He told the Irish Independent that the wedding took a year to plan as they had a lot of friends coming over from all over Europe.
‘Our plans are to have many many children.
‘That’s what happens after you get married.’
The bride, who runs a coastal adventure tourism business, said it was a beautiful day.
‘We had all our friends gathered around us in a circle on the beach.
‘We saved a few euro on the whole wedding as well. It cost less than 2,000 euros, which isn’t bad at all.’
During the ancient ceremony the couple’s hands were tied together in an ancient Celtic custom, which gave way to the expression ‘tying the knot’.
