This act was given Royal Assent on May 1st 2012, and removed the time restrictions on marriages having to take place between 8am and 6pm from current legislation – namely the Marriage Act 1949 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004. This Act applies to England and Wales only – Scotland already had no time restrictions on marriage, and Northern Ireland still operates under the 8am to 6pm rule.



Note that it is still up to the Catholic Church, The Church of England, and any other religions to decide when they will conduct marriage ceremonies. This Act merely gives them the right to choose any time of day.