Six couples will go to the High Court on 7-8 July to make a landmark challenge over the legal recognition of humanist marriages in the UK. Their case is supported by accredited local celebrants Mark Adams, Roland Baskeyfield, Stefanie Fetterman, Shirley George, Karen Hewitt, Ben Jewell, and Janet Lopacki, who offer humanist wedding ceremonies in Manchester.

The couples hope to compel the UK Government to change the law regarding humanist weddings being legally recognised, as is the case in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their lawyers will argue that the current law discriminates against their humanist beliefs, and is therefore incompatible with human rights legislation.

A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony conducted by a humanist celebrant. It differs from a civil wedding in that it is entirely personalised and reflective of the humanist beliefs and values of each couple. Humanists UK has provided these ceremonies for many decades.

In England and Wales, over 1,000 couples a year already have a humanist wedding without legal recognition but they must also have a separate civil marriage – usually at a registrar’s office – to be legally recognised. Two such ceremonies add to financial strain and distress due to the state failing to recognise their humanist wedding of choice as their ‘real’ one.

One of the six couples, Lucy Penny and Dan Bradley, live in St Helens. They were married in December by local celebrant Ben Jewell, from Chorlton. The couple didn’t want a civil marriage ceremony, but felt it was the only route to legal recognition.

Lucy and Dan commented; “Since the start of this case, we’ve had a humanist wedding and a civil marriage because we couldn’t secure legal recognition for our humanist marriage. We’re now taking part in the case in the hope we can change the law for future couples.”

Ben Jewell, their celebrant stated; “It was a pleasure to conduct Lucy and Dan’s ceremony last year but it’s regrettable they experienced discrimination on their big day – having to pay twice and leave their celebrations in order to register their civil marriage. I’m optimistic that this case will secure equal legal treatment for all couples choosing a humanist ceremony. Love is love.”

Manchester celebrants such as the collective listed above are proud to contribute to Manchester’s ethos of equality and inclusion. They celebrate diversity and flexibility for couples from all walks of life in a variety of unique venues.

Celebrant Shirley George stated; “I’ve conducted weddings in castles, museums, art galleries, theatres – even boats! Whilst I love working alongside couples to make truly unique wedding ceremonies, it’s frustrating they have to go through legalities separately.”

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘Couples who have humanist weddings see that as the epitome of their love and commitment to each other. All they want is the same legal recognition as is given to every religious person in our country. We have tried for decades to address this glaring double standard. Government has dragged its heels and that’s why it’s been left to these couples to bring this case. As more and more non-religious couples choose to have humanist weddings, we need a law that works for all people and we hope this case will lead to reform.’

More about the case

Parliament voted to give the Government the power to give legal recognition to humanist marriages in 2013 but no Government has used it. In the time since then, over 6,000 couples have been denied legal recognition for their humanist wedding.

The six couples challenging this discrimination lodged their case at the High Court in November last year. Permission to be heard was granted by the Court on 2 March, with the full hearing due to happen on 7-8 July. After permission was granted, the claimants offered to negotiate with the Government over possibly settling the case, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but this was refused. It is now hoped that the case will lead to a change in the law in time to help deal with the huge backlog of demand for more flexible marriage services now occurring due to the pandemic.