Petition for New Prime Minister

Gordon Brown has not yet been in office for 24 hours and there is a petition online to allow photography during Civil Wedding Ceremonies.

Now, during some religious wedding ceremonies, the vicar/priest/pastor takes it as a personal insult if the professional photographer (and the guests!) is not blazing away with the flash throughout! There are other religious ceremonies where photography is allowed as long as no flash and discretion is used.

However with civil wedding ceremonies (registry offices and the like) this can vary widely depending on the registrar. Sometimes photography is allowed where you are allowed to stand at the front just behind the registrar as long as you don't move. Sometimes no photography is allowed till after the ceremony takes place - and the bride and groom pose with the empty certificate book.

The reasons are varied and range from the data protection act (might photograph some personal details) to cameras/flash being noisy and distracting to bride and groom as well as the registrar. The contention arises from the fact that professional and even guest videographers are allowed to film throughout!

The petition is for the Prime Minister to set some guidelines so at least they are universal across the board and the poor bride and groom can get some photos of their ceremony!