Belgian civil code revision could prevent Sunday weddings

A minor revision to Belgium's civil code could make weddings illegal on Sundays and public holidays after 31 March.

Several municipalities perform Sunday ceremonies, including Uccle and Maasmachelen. Uccle mayor Boris Dilliès said the municipality will continue to perform ceremonies on Sundays, but they will be unofficial ceremonies. Official ceremonies will have to take place on a different day.

Many people choose to get married on Sundays for religious reasons. For Jewish couples, it is a way to get around the Sabbath from Friday night to Saturday night. For others, a wedding on a Sunday means a much cheaper venue.

Uccle has performed eight wedding ceremonies on Sundays between 2016 and 2018. However, they ask that the couple or their families arrange the reception and read the legal texts during the ceremony, to avoid making the registry office staff work on that day.

Dilliès has contacted federal MP Gautier Calomne, who has just introduced a new bill that would overturn the Sunday wedding ban.

"Even though ceremonies on Sundays and public holidays are not frequent, they are carried out in some communes because there is a demand for them among citizens," Calomne said.

"I hope the draft law will be considered as soon as possible and that it is adopted before 31 March. The urgency of the timing calls for a fast treatment. But parliamentary time remains what it is."