Foster scores wedding ceremony victory

4.02.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 13th Jun 2005

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has secured the Government's agreement to relax a bizarre law which has prevented some of the country's favourite love poems and songs from being used in registry office weddings.

The 1949 Marriage Act bans any religious references in civil wedding ceremonies, which rules out scores of poems, readings and songs that contain even the most indirect religious reference.

Works banned include Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How do I Love Thee," because it mentioned "Grace", "God" and "Being," - and even Robbie Williams' hit single "Angels."

Don has persuaded the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, whose department is responsible for civil weddings, to change the rules, and the Government will this week announce a consultation paper aimed at allowing readings, songs or music "that contain an incidental reference to a god or deity in an essentially nonreligious context" on registry office weddings.

Commenting, Don said

"I'm absolutely delighted that loving couples will soon be able to have their favourite love songs, and most cherished poems and readings, included in their wedding service.

"This ban was nonsensical, and amounts to nothing short of a bizarre form of censorship. It has caused considerable heartache and frustration to so many couples on what should be the happiest day of their lives."

"The sooner this change is introduced, the better."