Love Shouldn't Wait

At Gretna Green, we’ve helped lovers leap into forever for nearly 300 years.

So why does the law still make them wait?

It’s never been harder to marry

Once you could marry within the hour. Now? You need patience, paperwork, and deep pockets.

Marriage has become mechanical – drained of romance by red tape. Weddings should be about commitment, not compliance. Yet the UK’s legal framework has failed to keep pace. The process remains unnecessarily complex, poorly explained, and opaque. Those facing compassionate or time-sensitive circumstances – such as terminal illness or military deployment – are often left without a clear path.

Here’s what couples face today:

• A 28-day mandatory wait before you can say “I do”
• Skyrocketing costs putting love behind a paywall
• Outdated rules that prioritise process over people

Strikingly, it is now easier to get divorced than it is to get married. Since 2022, couples in England and Wales have been able to access no-fault divorce through a simple online process, often faster and less administratively burdensome than arranging a legal wedding. Currently, any application to get married still needs to be written in pen and ink, and it now takes twice as long to register the marriage application as it did fifteen years ago.

Marriage is on the brink

It’s not love that’s fading, it’s the system that’s failing.

Let’s look at the facts:

• Fewer than 50% of UK adults are now married (ONS)
• 61% say weddings are too expensive (YouGov, 2025)
• 1 in 4 want the 28-day legal wait scrapped (YouGov, 2025)

We’ve welcomed runaway romantics since 1754. But even we can’t outrun red tape.

At Gretna Green, we’ve stood for love in all its forms – whispered vows, brave elopements and bold commitments.

So we’re striking the anvil once more. This time, for lovers across the country.

A Mini Manifesto for Modern Marriage

We’re calling on the UK Government to bring marriage into the modern age, without losing its magic.

• Appoint a Marriage Tsar: A champion to lead reform, act with compassion, and keep love on the agenda.
• Review the 28-day wait: Life doesn’t always give us time. The law should be ready when love is.
• Fast-track urgent cases: Terminal illness. Military deployment. Real reasons. Real reform.
• Clear, modern guidance: Plain language. Digital-first. No more squinting at PDFs from 1997.

What happens next?

We’ve launched our Love Shouldn’t Wait campaign to get marriage moving again.

We’re writing to Shabana Mahmood (Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain), and rallying voices across the UK.

Want to help?

Here’s how to stand with us:

• Share the campaign on social media and tag @GretnaGreen
• Tell your story using #LoveShouldntWait on X, Instagram, or Threads
• Write to your MP or MSP – tell them love shouldn’t wait – See our template letter here

We’ve helped generations of couples marry freely. We’re not stopping now.

Because when you know… you know.