Gay weddings on increase as 1,000 couples 'tie the knot'

Gay weddings are on the increase with greater numbers of same-sex couples saying "I do" - in settings ranging from National Trust houses to football stadiums.

While marriage has been in decline for the past three decades, an Independent on Sunday survey has found that nearly 1,000 gay and lesbian couples have now "tied the knot" since partnership ceremonies were introduced two and a half years ago.

Gay weddings are becoming big business. A company called Pink Weddings, set up last year, now specialises in just that.

The number of local authorities allowing partnership ceremonies has steadily increased, with little or no controversy, since the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, introduced the service in the capital in September 2001.

Fifteen local authorities now provide the service. Alongside Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, areas less well known for their thriving gay and lesbian scenes, such as Devon, Swansea and Clackmannanshire in central Scotland, have also signed up. Other councils include Telford, Bath, Dorset and Newport in Shropshire. An IoS survey of the councils showed that 849 "weddings" had been sanctioned. Even football clubs - not necessarily known for embracing gay rights - have joined in. Gay couples can now get "married" at two Premiership clubs - Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Alison Plant, Aston Villa Football Club's conference and banqueting sales manager, said: "If it helps to encourage diversity on the football side of the business, that can only be a good thing."

Although partnership ceremonies have no legal effect, that will change if the Civil Partnership Bill announced in the Queen's Speech is passed. Same-sex couples who legally register their relationship will have the same rights on tax, benefits, inheritance, property and pensions that heterosexual spouses enjoy. The Bill is expected to be introduced in the House of Lords next month, where it is due to receive a rocky ride.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, a gay and lesbian lobby group, said: "It is very welcome that local authorities are providing services, but the change in law is still desperately needed."

Pink Weddings has now organised more than 100 ceremonies. The company's founder, Gino Meriano, saidthe firm offers services that gay and lesbian couples are unable to get from mainstream wedding planners. It provides invitations and thank you cards that refer to partnership ceremonies rather than weddings. They also make cake tops with two men or two women, rather than the traditional bride and groom.

As the number of ceremonies has risen, so too has the number - and variety - of venues. Last year, Pink Weddings reached an agreement with the National Trust to host ceremonies at five of its historic buildings.

Mr Meriano said: "Many venues still don't offer same-sex celebrations. All it takes is one waiter sniggering at two guys and it ruins the day."

In a magazine interview yesterday, Elton John said that he and his partner, David Furnish, would sign the register, but only if the law on civil partnerships was passed. He said: "We don't particularly want to get married ... But if this civil rights thing comes in in England next year, David and I will sign up because if I don't he's not protected in law."

Gay weddings have provoked uproar in some parts of the US since the Mayor of San Francisco allowed a lesbian couple to marry in February. President Bush has turned it into an election issue, promising to introduce a constitutional amendment banning them if he is re-elected.

'We want to commit ourselves to each other, and we don't care who knows it'

Last Thursday was the happiest day of Gary Owen's life. Dressed in his best suit, and with friends and family looking on, he arrived at Manchester register office to exchange vows and rings, with the love of his life, Alan Spencer.

"We want to commit ourselves to each other," said Mr Owen, 38. "We're made for each other and we love each other and we don't care who knows it."

His friends and family have been supportive throughout, he said. "There will be 20 there in the afternoon and 100-odd at the reception in the evening, with a DJ, karaoke and some party games. We're just sick of waiting."

Though the ceremony won't change their relationship in the eyes of the law, Mr Owen, a minibus driver, said it was still important to them. "And once the law goes through we'll just go back to the registrar and sign," he added.

Yesterday, another couple were saying "I do" at Manchester register office. Cheryl Simpson and her partner Julia exchanged vows they had written for each other, despite the concerns of some members of their families. The couple had travelled from their home in mid-Wales - where such ceremonies are not allowed.

"We try not to let it get in the way," said Ms Simpson, 35. "If they can't accept it, so be it - we have to live our life the way we want to. We are fully committed to each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together."

They also plan to return to the register office if the Civil Partnerships Bill becomes law. Julia said: "What we'd really like is the same rights as everybody else. But we wanted to show our friends and family how serious we are."