Marriage is of course an institution and, in another sphere of law, is dealt with in civil marriage.
Civil marriage does not ask that people have a particular religion, or anything else other than that they make a public commitment of permanence.
The 1897 state recognition of civil marriage or the 1918 secularisation of marriage would have made a more logical ending point for this otherwise solid study.
The likely further personalisation of civil marriage ceremonies removes any disincentives to marriage associated with the form of ceremony and may therefore act positively to increase the popularity of marriage.
The introduction of a civil marriage ceremony was a key step in the 1830s, in providing a secular means of forming a legal union.
In this, the age of legal consent of civil marriage was 21 for men and 18 for women.
There is much less doubt about the take-up of the new opportunities for civil marriage ceremonies, which the proposals will introduce.
In addition, as a religious marriage after the civil marriage is not banned, there is no violation of secularism or any fundamental right.
