A raft of amendments have been made to the way marriages are registered in England and Wales, including a change which enables the names of both parents of the couple to be added in the marriage entry and on marriage certificates for the first time, instead of only their fathers’ names.

The government said in a press release on Tuesday that the regulations to amend the Marriage Act, marked “the biggest changes to the marriage registration system since 1837.”

A new electronic register has also been created, to allow registrations to be housed in one place and to make the registration process simpler and more efficient.

The electronic system does away with the need for a register book, which the government says will save time and money, as well as providing a more secure way to record marriages.

Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:

“These changes bring the registration process into the 21st century and means no parent will be missing on their child’s wedding day.”

You can access the press release here.