Gay Marriage : Planning your Big Day
Whether you want an all-singing, all-dancing ceremony or a small quiet event, you will be joining 54,000 gay and lesbian same sex couples who have ‘tied the knot’ in the UK since 2005. With the passing of the bill to permit same sex marriage earlier this year, the numbers are set to rise.
This month, help is at hand for anyone planning their Big Day with the first ‘ONE LOVE WEDDING SHOW’ at the Hospital Club in London on 19 and 20th October. Over 70 exhibitors including Further Afield will provide stylish inspiration for gay and lesbian couples. Saville Row suit makers, glamorous milliners and dress-makers, fashionable photographers and cake bakers to the stars will all be there. We will be there too, to show you the best places to get married in the UK and when the Big Day is over, where to honeymoon.
WHERE TO TIE THE KNOT IN STYLE IN THE UK.
It will be one of the most important days of your life, and after choosing who to marry, the next big decision is where to get married. With that in mind, we have cherry-picked the best venues across the UK from our collection of STYLISH GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS. Many of them are gay owned and managed but they all have an excellent track record and experience of managing civil partnerships.
You can see all of our recommendations within our CIVIL PARTNERSHIP THEME but for now we leave you with our cherry-picked best from England, Scotland and Wales.
THE ZETTER HOTEL, CLERKENWELL, LONDON
Attitude Magazine says: “Without doubt London’s coolest hotel. Go.” And with foodie favourites on your doorstep likeMoro, St John’s and Bistrot Bruno Loubet, why wouldn’t you?
THE GROVE PEMBRgOKESHIRE, WALES
Grandeur and informality blend together beautifully at this restored boutique hotel. The perfect escape for lovers of luxury and fine dining.
SPECIAL PLACES TO HONEYMOON.
After the Big Day comes the Big Holiday Honeymoon. Some of you will want to head for the hills and hunker down in glorious isolation while others will want to party the night away and ‘live it large’. Whatever your honeymoon aspirations, we have something to suit from contemporary ARCHITECT-DESIGNED BOLTHOLES ON THE ISLE OF SKYE to state of the art DESIGNER HOTELS IN NEW YORK
For more places ‘just for two’ take a peek at our SMALL PLACES TO STAY. Some off the beaten track and other bang in the heart of the city.
SOME FACTS ABOUT CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS AND GAY MARRIAGE
To marry or civil partner? The bill to permit same sex gay marriage was passed by the UK parliament in July 2013, and it will be possible to opt for a civil marriage in early 2014 but a venue will need to have a license to perform a same sex marriage.
What
A civil partnership, unlike a civil marriage, does not involve saying certain “declaratory” and “contractual” words aloud at the ceremony and all the content must be non-religious. You don’t have to actually say anything at a Civil Partnership ceremony, so you could compose your own hand signals but do warn the registrar!
Where
The legal part of a civil partnership in the UK must take place on premises which hold a license. It can include a hotel’s outdoor permanent structures, including gazebos with foundations. If you long for a totally open-air celebration, this will have to be separate form the legal bit.
Why
Apart from your personal reasons to make your commitment public, a civil partnership provides legal rights for both partners in the areas of tax, pensions, children, inheritance and next of kin.
Who
You must be over 18 to enter a civil partnership, or over 16 with parental permission, and not married or CP’d to anyone else. Apart from you, the only other people who have to be there are two witnesses and the ceremonies officer.
How
For civil partnerships, you must both give “notice of intention” in person at a registry office, then wait 15 days , during which there is the opportunity for anyone to object. If no one objects, an authority to go ahead will be issued and this lasts for one year from your notice of intention. You will also need to prove residency in the area where your CP ceremony at least 7 days immediately before giving notice.
When
Civil partnerships can now take place at anytime of the day or night.
