Why Government killjoys are trying to ban wedding day pictures

By ANDREW BUCKWELL

Last updated at 00:46 11 May 2008

It is the classic wedding photograph pose – the happy couple smiling for the camera as they sign the register.

But the tradition is being scrapped in register offices as a result of Government guidelines which state that photographing the register breaches data protection rules.

It will mean an end to thousands of happy snaps – such as those taken at the wedding of TV weather girl Sian Lloyd and her husband Jonathan Ashman.

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The new guidelines say photographs of couples signing the register could invade the privacy of others because their signatures may be visible on the same page.

There are further fears that details taken from the wedding snaps could be used by fraudsters planning identity theft and that the photos could be in breach of Crown Copyright.

But critics of the move say it is absurd because the register is a public document and the information entered in it is readily available on the internet from the General Register Office.

The new guidelines also express concern that couples concentrating on the camera rather than the page could make mistakes on the register or even cause damage to it.

In some register offices, bemused couples have been told they must pose for pictures over the blank page of a "dummy" book.

One register office official said: "We were told photos could not be taken of couples signing the register because it would breach data protection. It seems absurd as these are pictures of couples signing important personal documents.

"It is hardly likely people are going to be able to read the names of other entrants on the page, let alone misuse that information."

A spokesman for the Home Office, which has responsibility for the General Register Office, said: "There are data protection issues which we do raise when someone else's details are put in the public domain.

"This is about being aware of people's identity information – if it's there in the register then it is problematic."

Another spokesman explained: "Taking a photograph could be construed as a copy of the entry and a breach of the Crown Copyright. There are four entries to a double page so the details of another marriage could also be photographed.

"There's nothing in marriage legislation which refers specifically to photography. But we advise against photos of signing of the register for various reasons. It will divert the couple from making sure the information is accurate and from signing it in the right place.

"An error in an entry might be discovered after it had been signed by the registrar. If there is an error it can only be corrected by a marginal note.

"There is also a high risk of damage to the register with a fountain pen when the bride and groom are looking at the camera and not the pen.

"A blank page allows the couple to concentrate on the photograph and allows the registrar to prepare the marriage certificate for which they would otherwise have to wait."

Register offices in Liverpool, Swindon, Durham and Wolverhampton all insist couples must pose with a dummy book and pen instead of capturing the

real moment.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton register office said: "Our superintendent ensures you cannot take any photos of the actual book. If they want this particular picture we give them a blank book to stand over."

At Bury St Edmund's register office in Suffolk there is concern that computer technology could be used to steal information taken in a wedding photo.

A spokesman said: "There's confidential information listed in marriage entries and with photographic digital enhancement you might be able to see those details if a picture were taken."

A spokesman for Islington register office, North London, said they took a more liberal approach. He added: "If there are no other names on the page, or the photographer is doing a wide shot – say he's four to six feet away – then we allow the picture. When there is a close-up involved and there are other names in the book then we cover them, or let them pose with a blank page."

But it seems that the ruling does not affect traditional church weddings.

Church of England spokesman Steve Jenkins said: "The focus is always the couple, not the book. It would be obvious if someone started zooming and shooting the book instead.

"I'm not aware of anybody being prevented from taking a photo the couple have requested because of data protection at a church wedding."