Couples could get married in the church of their choice under new plans being discussed by the Church of England.
The General Synod will discuss the motion on Saturday in a bid to stem the fall in numbers of church weddings.
The Synod has already said it supports relaxing the rules but will be given the option of scrapping restrictions altogether at the meeting in York.
Currently, people can only get married in parishes where one of them lives, unless they have a special licence.
Church reformers believe the changes will encourage people to get married in church more.
More marriages took place in approved premises than in the Church of England or Church of Wales for the first time in 2002.
We are trying to move away from the restrictive criteria that applies currently.
The Dean of Wakefield, The Very Reverend George Nairn-Briggs
The Synod has already given its backing to the "demonstrable connection" option, which would allow people to get married in parishes where they were born, brought up or have some other connection with.
But it will be asked to vote on whether couples should be able to marry anywhere they choose.
However, there is concern within the Church of England that churches in more picturesque areas would be inundated with bookings while others would attract little interest.
The Dean of Wakefield, The Very Reverend George Nairn-Briggs, who is a member of the church's marriage law working group, said the church wanted to become more user-friendly.
"We are trying to move away from the restrictive criteria that applies currently.
"Couples these days say they do not necessarily want to get married in the area in which they live.
"People have become more mobile and we want to reflect that.
"Since the civil law changed and people have be able to get married in other places the numbers marrying in churches have dropped."
But whatever changes are agreed by the Synod are not likely to be introduced until 2007.
The Church is waiting for the government to complete its review of civil registration ceremonies, covering christenings as well as marriages.
The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year after which the church will finalise its draft legislation, which will also cover new guidelines on clergy training for weddings.