 |
 |
Time Change For UK's First Gay Wedding
July 14, 2005 12:00 AM
The time for the UK's first gay wedding has been changed to 8am on 21 December 2005 as a result of an update in legislation announced this month.
Brighton and Hove is set to make British history on 21 December 2005 when it hosts the first same-sex weddings in the UK for three couples including the Reverend Debbie Gaston and her long-term partner of 16 years, Elaine Grayhurst.
Due to the Government's recent change to legislation for the Civil Partnership Bill, the time of the first wedding has been altered from one second past midnight to 8am in order to fit with new time constraints.
This legislation brings the Civil Partnership Bill in line with the rules for heterosexual marriage which stipulates that a marriage can only be conducted between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
Debra Reynolds, Additional Superintendent Registrar at Brighton & Hove Register Office, who will be one of the officiates conducting the ceremonies in December, said: "This legislative change will not change our plans to be the first city to host a gay wedding in the UK, it just means we will be having a wedding breakfast instead of a midnight feast!"
"It will be the start of a very busy month for us, as we have 182 bookings for same-sex weddings in the following four weeks."
Brighton's history-making event will take place at 8am on 21 December when three couples will be married in a simultaneous ceremony.
The other two couples include pink wedding planner Gino Meriano and his long-term partner Mike Ullett; and Sussex Police employee Roger Lewis and his partner Keith Willmott-Goodall.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats