City to celebrate UK's first gay wedding fair

Organisers of the event in Brighton hope to challenge the image of gay ceremonies and hope it will mark the latest step in the campaign for same-sex marriages.

It follows controversy in California, where more than 3,400 same-sex couples have wed since San Francisco's mayor began issuing licences last month.

Guests will be able to watch couples stage a mock ceremony, get legal advice and find a theme to set the scene for their own special day.

Following the success of same-sex commitment ceremonies in Brighton, the fair is expected to attract a lot of attention nationwide as well as from the city's bustling gay community.

Pink Weddings, a Surrey-based company which helps gay couples plan marriages, is behind the event planned for November.

Pink Wedding founder Gino Meriano said: "We help out couples who need help finding a venue. We do gay and lesbian invites, special centrepiece displays - anything to help their day go smoothly."

Brighton-based chocolatiers Choccywoccydoodah and a Kemp Town florist are two of their suppliers.

Gino said: "If you actually get to see a gay wedding, you realise it's really dignified, completely heartfelt - and that's the image that needs to be put out there. It needs to stop being looked at as if it's a disgrace.

"At the fair people will be able to come in, sit down, almost be part of the guests and will see two couples having a mock ceremony."

Pink Weddings has had no requests from couples in Brighton or Sussex but Gino said it came as no surprise.

He said: "Everything is already in place in Brighton so I suppose they don't need our help.

"We work closely with the register office and as far as we're concerned, as long as it is happening, that's the main thing.

"We have had requests from people in Yorkshire, Leicester and Burnley who say they can't find a venue or they need help with a certain aspect of the ceremony."

Debra Reynolds, superintendent registrar for Brighton and Hove, carried out 24 commitment ceremonies - which are not legally binding - for gay couples between April last year and January, compared with 1,010 marriages registered during the same period.

She said: "I think it's a great idea and we are really positive about it."

Brighton's register office plans to send a celebrant to the fair to talk to gay and lesbian couples considering a ceremony.

Ken Bodfish, Brighton and Hove City Council's Labour leader, said there was no controversy over gay weddings.

He said: "We were one of the first councils to have the partnership register.

"People want to make the declaration, want to have fun and we are very happy that they should do so in the same way as heterosexual couples."

The fair will be held at a hotel in the city, yet to be revealed.

If it is successful, it will go on a tour of the UK taking in Manchester, London, Liverpool, Swansea and Scotland.

Thursday March 04, 2004