Long overdue, life-changing or frivolous? Your thoughts on wedding rule changes

Carl Jones said he and his partner of 20 years did not get married because even the simplest weddings were too expensive.

“We want to get married, but it can’t happen because the cost is too high. It would be cheaper if we only had two witnesses, but why should we have one?” [12-year-old] “His daughter is not allowed to attend… This is wrong.”

But skeptics say this will do little to reduce the cost of weddings, which have jumped to an average of £21,990 according to wedding planning app Hitched.

Pastor Tom Kennar said it wasn’t the marriage that was expensive, it was the extras that most modern couples like to add.

“[It] reception, vehicle, drink, photographer, clothing, food, car, etc. “It’s the expenses,” he said.

Other critics of the proposal say they fear it will diminish the importance of marriage.

Writing for BBC Your Voice, Glaswegian Donald Tosh said: “Marriage is God’s gift to secure society. It is not an opportunity to set new standards and styles.”

“This is no longer a vital decision, it’s a temporary decision. And now with that, it’s a very temporary, pointless decision,” said Oliver, from Kent.

But celebrity Zadie Ward told the BBC the changes could increase the meaning of the wedding for many couples.

“[Critics] They say it’s a serious commitment and it’s about a serious commitment, but how can you ask someone to make a serious commitment with words that mean nothing to them and with means that don’t make sense?”