Milestone Weddings - The UK Wedding Co-ordinators

The Milestone guide to UK gay weddings and commitment ceremonies

Same-sex couples around the world are gradually being given more and more of the legal rights afforded to heterosexual couples. The UK is no exception, and although currently there is no legal way for same-sex couples to actually marry, Commitment Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships are two alternatives that get close.

Commitment Ceremonies

Non-legally binding Commitment Ceremonies are an opportunity for an adult couple to publicly declare their love for, and commitment to, each other.
Commitment Ceremonies are performed by Registrars in the same way as traditional civil weddings - ie in a Register Office or any place approved for marriage by the local authority. Because premises do not have to hold a marriage license though, Registrars may agree to perform the ceremony at other local authority venues as well.
There is no set wording for the ceremony, so each can be unique with each couple creating their own celebration of words, music and readings that convey special meaning to them.
There are no set timescales on how quickly the ceremony can take place - it depends entirely on Registrar availability.
Each local authority sets its own scale of fees, but in general the costs start around £100. Costs substantially increase when the premises are other than a Register Office and when complexity and length of ceremony increases!

Civil Partnerships

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation on 5 December 2005 and enables a same-sex couple to register as civil partners of each other. Their relationship is thus legally recognised with the couple gaining the same rights as a married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits.
Notice has to be given by each partner in exactly the same way and with exactly the same timescales as for a civil wedding. Non-Europeans are covered by exactly the same immigration controls as for civil weddings.
Civil Partnership ceremonies are performed by Registrars in the same way as traditional civil weddings - ie in a Register Office or any place approved for marriage by the local authority.
The Civil Partnership Act does not concern itself with ceremonies and so each Registrar will work with each couple creating their own celebration of words, music and readings that convey special meaning to them, blending this with the requirements for signing the schedule.
The minimum cost is £30 each to give notice of your partnership, a £40 fee for the registration and £3.50 for the certificate. Costs substantially increase when the premises are other than a Register Office and ornate ceremonies are involved.