Contest opens to be Brighton’s first gay couple to wed

A contest is under way to win the chance to be the first same sex couple to marry when the law changes in March.

The prize will be a free wedding in the Music Room of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton at a minute after midnight on Saturday 29 March.

This is the date on which gay weddings become legal.

Brighton and Hove City Council Register Office and the Pavilion are working in partnership to offer the prize.

The aim is to enable a couple to make history by being the first to marry under the new law.

The council said: “Applications are being accepted from same sex couples wishing to be the first couple to be wed in the city.

“The selected couple will be wed, free of charge, in the magnificent setting of the Royal Pavilion’s Music Room at what will be both Brighton and Hove’s first same sex marriage and first late night wedding.

“At one minute past midnight on the day same sex marriage ceremonies become legal, the city’s registrars will conduct the first wedding in the Music Room of the Royal Pavilion.

“This will be the first marriage to take place in the beautiful Music Room which has only recently been licensed for evening weddings.”

Councillor Leo Littman said: “We warmly welcome the change in the law allowing people of the same sex to marry one another.

“Brighton and Hove is a very popular place for both weddings and civil partnerships.

“We are now seeing a high level of interest from same sex couples wanting to get married here.

“You can feel the excitement build towards the city’s first same sex wedding in March.

“Holding the first ceremony in our grand historic Royal Pavilion gives the city the chance to show itself for what it is – egalitarian, forward looking and also with a real respect for our history.

“It’s a venue close to my heart. I was married at the Royal Pavilion in 2007.

“We hope and expect that in the years ahead many more happy couples will choose to hold their weddings in our city.”

This opportunity is open to any same sex couple planning to be married in Brighton and Hove.

Both parties must be legally able to be married on Saturday 29 March.

The couple must also be willing for the media to be present at their ceremony and to appear in publicity about this historic moment.

The council said: “Couples in existing civil partnerships cannot apply as the legislation to convert a civil partnership to a marriage has not yet been announced.”

Senior ceremonies registrar Trevor Love is part of the team organising the celebrations for the day.

Mr Love said: “We’ve been taking inquiries for over a year from couples wanting to know when we will be able to offer same sex weddings.

“Even before the government announced the official date, we were inundated with people wanting to be married as soon as the law allowed and asking to go on a waiting list.

“We hope to share this sense of excitement. The ceremony we have planned is going to be a wonderful celebration for the happy couple and the city.”

The selected couple will be able to invite 80 guests to join them for their wedding in the Royal Pavilion Music Room.

There will be no charge for the registration services or room hire for the ceremony.

Couples are invited to write to or email Brighton and Hove City Council Register Office explaining why the Royal Pavilion is special for them and what it would mean to be married there on Saturday 29 March

The closing date for applications to be received is Friday 31 January. The couple chosen will be announced on Friday 14 February.

The council said: “The Register Office is already taking bookings for Saturday 29 March. Many same sex couples are choosing to be wed on the very first day the law allows.”

To apply for the Royal Pavilion midnight ceremony, email register.office@brighton-hove.gov.uk and write First Wedding 29 March in the subject field.

Or write to Linda Holm, superintendent registrar, Brighton and Hove Register Office, Town Hall, Brighton, BN1 1JA.