The Government is to repeal the law that allows either bride or groom to be absent from their formal marriage ceremony.
The law, which dates back 150 years, is to be changed as part of an overall package in the Civil Registration Bill, being introduced by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan.
The changes propose obliging both parties to attend civil registration ceremonies, where until now a party could be represented by proxy. The current law does not apply to church weddings.
"In between our births and deaths, civil registration affects us all during our lives, both directly, as in the case of getting married, or indirectly, when certificates are required for many of the services available in society - such as enrolling a child in school, taking up a job, or getting a passport, Ms Coughlan said."
The minister said there had been little changes to the registration procedures since 1864. She pledged: "Modern computer technology will make this system more accessible, faster - and more customer-focused."
PA