Wedding law reform in the UK is one of the most talked-about topics in the wedding industry right now, and for good reason.
You choose who photographs your wedding. You choose who makes your dress, who cooks your food, who plays the music. But in England and Wales, you still cannot choose who legally marries you. That, according to one of the most influential voices in the UK wedding industry, is about to change.
Zoe Burke is head of content, brand, and social at Bridebook, the UK's most popular wedding planning app with over 2.8 million couples served.
She has 15 years of experience across some of the biggest names in the wedding industry, including Hitched, Confetti, and the National Wedding Shows. She met with the then Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to discuss wedding law reform directly, and she wrote Bridebook's official consultation response. If anyone has a clear-eyed, authoritative read on where the industry is heading, it is Zoe.
In this episode, host Laura Crockett sits down with Zoe for one of the most practical and reassuring conversations about wedding law reform you will find anywhere. They cover what is actually happening, when it might happen, how to talk about it with couples and venues, and why Zoe is convinced this change will be good for everyone in the industry, celebrants included.
"You choose who does your photos, you choose who makes your dress, you choose who makes your food. You don't choose who actually marries you. That blows my mind." Zoe Burke, Ep 27
In this episode, you'll learn:
✨ What wedding law reform actually means for independent celebrants in England and Wales, straight from someone who has been in the room with government to talk about it
✨ Why Zoe is very optimistic it will happen within the next couple of years, what David Lammy said on camera about the timeline, and the one thing that could delay it
✨ Why Zoe does not think law reform will fundamentally change where people get married, and why venue owners concerned about losing business can relax
✨ What Zoe believes will happen with regulatory requirements for celebrants once the law changes, and why she thinks proper regulation is a very good thing for the profession
✨ The honest answer to the question every celebrant is being asked right now: what should couples planning 2028 weddings do? Business as usual, and here is why
✨ Why celebrants who choose not to pursue legal accreditation will still have a thriving market, including destination weddings, vow renewals, and couples who simply want the legal bit done separately
✨ How couples' attitudes toward the ceremony itself have shifted dramatically in the 15 years Zoe has been in the industry, and why the ceremony is no longer something people just want to get out of the way
✨ Zoe's one piece of advice for newly trained celebrants starting out, the thing she tells everyone across the industry who is just beginning
This episode is perfect for:
- Qualified celebrants who are navigating conversations about law reform with couples and venues and want to feel more confident and informed
- Newly trained celebrants who want a grounded, industry perspective on what the next few years look like and how to position themselves
- Aspiring celebrants who want to understand the landscape they are training into and why this is actually a brilliant time to be joining the profession
- Anyone in the wedding industry who wants a clear, calm, authoritative read on what law reform does and does not mean for business
This episode sits beautifully alongside Episode 23, where Laura Crockett, Professor Russell Sandberg, and Sophie Easton from the Give Couples Choice Movement walked through the government consultation chapter by chapter. If you have not listened to that one yet, it is the perfect companion to this conversation.
After this episode, you will feel more confident, more informed, and considerably less anxious about what wedding law reform means for your celebrant career. And you will have the words to reassure the couples and venue managers who are asking you about it.
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Beyond The Ceremony Podcast: Modern Celebrancy. Unfiltered
Everything you need to know about how to succeed as a modern celebrant. From top tips on how to create unforgettable ceremonies, to success stories from some of the best in the biz, we give you a behind-the-scenes look into life as a celebrant. Hosted by Laura Crockett, award-winning celebrant, radio personality, and host of Beyond The Ceremony.
MEET GUEST, ZOE BURKE
Zoe Burke is head of content, brand, and social at Bridebook, the UK's most popular wedding planning app, where she oversees everything from SEO and social media to PR and editorial. With 15 years of experience across the UK wedding industry, including Hitched, Confetti, Ocean Media, and the National Wedding Shows, Zoe is one of the most knowledgeable and well-connected voices in the business. She has been a passionate advocate for wedding law reform and independent celebrants for years, meeting with the then Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on the subject and writing Bridebook's official consultation response.
Bridebook Website | Zoe Instagram | Bridebook Instagram
MEET YOUR HOST, LAURA CROCKETT
Laura has been an independent celebrant for 5 years and absolutely loves it. It makes her so proud seeing how far she’s come in that time. Laura feels like she’s found her calling and is so excited to keep progressing and growing her Celebrant business! Laura creates all kinds of ceremonies, including Weddings, Funerals, Vow Renewals, and Naming Ceremonies. Before she was a celebrant, Laura was a breakfast radio presenter, so her happy place is either at the front of a ceremony or sitting behind a microphone!
At home, Laura is married to Johnathan (a primary school teacher and her biggest cheerleader) and a mummy to two boys – Woody and Dougie. Laura is also a dog mum to Betty and Barney, the cockapoos! They can often be found curled up by her side when she’s writing scripts or lying by the radiator in the office when she’s on couples calls!
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