Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The lesbian bride

Adam Jacques
Sunday 15 June 2008 00:00 BST
Comments
Beverley and Sarah Simonds got married on an organic farm in Berkshire
Beverley and Sarah Simonds got married on an organic farm in Berkshire

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Beverley Milner, 34, an HR manager, wed Sarah Simonds, 34, who owns a garden-design company, in July 2005

We were the first of our friends to have a civil partnership; when I realised Sarah was the woman for me it seemed right to make this public declaration.

Civil partnerships were in the news then, so it didn't take too much explaining to family and friends. They'd seen us meet and fall in love, so the overwhelming response was, "Of course you're getting married".

We had our wedding at a gorgeous organic farm in Berkshire, where Sarah used to be a shepherdess. My father had passed away about a month before, so my brother gave me away.

We exchanged vows in a beautifully decorated barn, and in the evening, instead of a disco – which really wasn't our style at all – we took everyone up into the woods on a candle-lit procession to a roaring bonfire.

It was an emotionally exhausting day, but it was worth it to show how much we meant to each other.

The civil partnership also gives us the comfort of knowing we are not going to be discriminated against. We're now Mrs and Mrs; no one can take that way from us.

www.stonewall.org.uk

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in