Pink Wedding Days | Gay Marriage and Civil Partnerships Blog

The Italian Senate  will debate today on whether or not to introduce same-sex unions.  Italy offers no legal rights to LGBTI couples .  And it’s something of an embarrassment for a  Government that promised in 2014 to modernise Italian society.   In 2015, Italy was criticised by the  European Court of Human Rights for a lack of inclusive and appropriate same-sex laws. It's the last major Western European power to offer civil unions to same-sex couples. Denmark was the first country to introduce same-sex unions in 1989. Even in Northern Ireland, where equal marriage remains unrecognised, there's been a decade of civil partnerships. Last weekend, thousands of LGBTI supporters gathered in the main squares of Rome , Palermo, Milan, Florence and Naples holding alarm clocks to symbolise the need for Italy to “wake up” . Despite the support, however, there is no guarantee that the ruling left party, led by Matteo...

Do your research .  Attend open days , read online reviews, talk to anyone with direct experience of the venue: friends, family, employees of the venue, ex-employees, previous couples, and service providers who use the venue regularly. Use Google and Tripadvisor (cautiously, however), to build up a picture of what they're like, how they work and whether they're suitable for you. Compare them to other local venues, too.  Visit the venue on a regular trading day, and go incognito.  Sit in the bar or restaurant and look around you. See how the staff handle problems, treat guests, and present their venue when they're not selling it to you.  You'll feel the right venue in the pit of your stomach, but that's no excuse for poor research in the build up to booking it. It's important, that the venue has liability insurance. This means that you won't be liable if someone injures themselves during the wedding. If the venue doesn...

Awkward Wedding For the Anglican Church Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s daughter, Mpho Tutu , has married her lesbian partner in the Netherlands.  Archbishop Tutu hasn’t given his public blessing, and neither him nor his wife were in attendance. It puts the Anglican Church in something of a difficult position as Mpho Tuto is also a Reverend Canon in the Church.  The Anglican Faith  remains opposed to gay clergy marrying.  You can read more by clicking here… Disappointment for same-sex couples in Vietnam Vietnam may have lifted its ban on same-sex marriage , but there are still widespread reports of prejudice towards the country’s LGBTI population.  The initial hope was that Vietnam might become something of a beacon for LGBTI rights in South East Asia. This suggests that, for the time being, they still have some way to go.  You can read more by clicking here... Judicial review on civil partnerships ...

We’re delving back into the directory to highlight the open days at venues listed in the Pink Wedding Days directory .  Are you looking for a wedding venue in either the Ipswich or Dedham, Essex areas? If so, you’re in luck!  When you book a wedding with Milsom Hotels you know that you’re going to be very well looked after. We encourage you to visit during their open days, or browse the website to see what we mean.  On February 21 st , Milsom’s Kesgrave Hall in Ipswich is holding a Wedding Show between 10am to 3pm , and brides and grooms-to-be are all invited! Entry to both events is FREE  and each guest will enjoy a selection canapes and a glass of fizz . Wedding suppliers will be on hand, and it’s a great way to have a look around this beautiful venue. You can also have a chat with the people directly responsible for planning the weddings. Kesgrave Hall is a beautiful Georgian mansion set in 40 acres of parkland and wi...

We have 60 complimentary tickets to the National Gay Wedding show in Manchester this Sunday! (January 17th) Drop us an email , a tweet or a FB message and we'll get them to you.  First come, first served.  There will be over 100 exhibitors, fashion shows and much much more. 

Civil partnerships have been legal in the United Kingdom  for over ten years. In case you've forgotten our previous post, then  2005 was the year that Shane Ward won X-Factor; the year that Prince Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles and MG Rover went into receivership. It’s funny how time flies. Okay , it isn’t funny; it’s absolutely terrifying.  Civil partnerships are on the decline, and marriage is now the first choice for most gay couples. This isn't surprising, but it is interesting. Not least because  civil partnerships have never been offered to heterosexual couples in the UK. This could be about to change. Rebecca Steinfeld and her partner, Charles Keidan , are bringing a judicial review to London’s High Court where they’ll argue for a change to the law: they want heterosexuals to be allowed to have civil partnerships .  Failure to allow this, they argue, is a violation of the 1998 Human Rights Act. An estimated 3...

2016 might still be box fresh but there’s no time like the present to get started with your wedding and civil partnership plans. Whether your wedding is in 2016 or 2017, the time between your engagement and vows will fly by. You might not believe us now, but you will. Last week, we highlighted the open days for both the Best Western Plus Rogerthorpe Manor in Yorkshire , and The National Piping Centre in Glasgow.  This week it’s Ashridge House in Hertfordshire .   Genuinely, Ashridge House is one of the most stunning venues listed in the Pink Wedding Days directory . This Grade II 190 acre estate is set in National Trust woodland in the beautiful Chiltern Hills .  You really need to see this venue. We highly recommend that you not only take Ashridge House’s 360 degree online tour , but that you visit the wedding showcase day there on Sunday February 7 th 2016. Open between 11am and 4pm , the showcase will give you the opportunity t...

National Piping Centre, Glasgow, Open Evening In 2016, we'll be featuring wedding events happening in  the UK. All those featured are listed  in the Pink Wedding Days' Directory   meaning that each one is gay friendly, but, obviously, you don't have to be gay to use our site...it just helps ;p Our second venue this year is the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. If you're planning a wedding or civil partnership in 2016 and beyond and are looking in the Glasgow area, then we'd highly recommend visiting the   wedding open day on Thursday January 14th .  Built in 1872, the National Piping Centre is one of Glasgow’s most popular wedding venues, and it’s easy to see why with an impressive mix of both Italian and Greek architectural styles right in the heart of Scotland’s second city. The National Piping Centre offers a number of packages all of which are detailed in their online  wedding brochure . The Wedding Open Evening is spo...

Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel Wedding Weekends & Open Days 2016 After the glut of Christmas, it’s time to get down to some serious wedding planning , and there’s no time like the present. Throughout 2016 we’ll be keeping you updated with wedding fayres, open days and events happening across the UK. All the venues we feature are listed in the Pink Wedding Days directory . This means that they’re all gay friendly, and very welcoming.  Our first venue this year is the Best Western Plus Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel is a 400 year old building surrounded by stunning gardens. This is very much a country venue, but its proximity to transportation networks makes it very convenient for guests.  You might remember that we recently featured  the Best Western Plus Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel in our Winter Weddings post back in   December.  Their first wedding weekend is nearly upon us, but if ...