lavendersparkle

Well, a vicar probably would have the discretion to be able to marry people in his church who aren't parishioners but have a strong conection to the church. He'd have to do it by special licence, but that's not hard to do if you have a reasonable excuse. My youngest brother is planning to marry in my parents' church and I doubt there'd be any problems obtaining a special licence, particularly as my mother is on the PCC and the deanery synod. Anyway, the Chrch of England is planning to change the rules soon so that you can get married in your parents church or the church you grew up in without a special licence.

I agree that I think it would better if we had the Dutch system of everyone civilly registering their marriage and then doing whatever kind of celebration they want.