A LOVING couple will become the first gay pair to get married in Brent.
Colin Smith and Eric Craig will become the first same-sex couple to tie the knot in Brent this Saturday, the day such marriages become legal in England and Wales.
Colin said: “We wanted to do it on the first day we could. We will have a wonderful day we can look back to where we joined our lives together and danced the night away in celebration. It will be fantastic to bring together our friends and family to see that we are as committed to each other as they are to their partners.”
Eric, a manager for mental health services, and Colin, who is a tax manager, have been together for 12 years.
They have been considering marriage for a while.
Eric said: “To be quite honest, both of us worked in organisations where same-sex partnerships are recognised, so a civil partnership didn’t give us much more than the acknowledgment of our relationship. In the future I’m going to be able to tick a box to say I’m married - that official recognition is important.”
They will exchange vows at Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, and celebrate the big day in the wedding suite and marriage garden.
Previously, same-sex couples only had the option of entering into a civil partnership.
Brent’s lead member for customers and citizens councillor James Denselow said: “On behalf of everyone at Brent Council, I want to congratulate Colin and Eric and wish them all the best for a very happy life together. Marriage is an important institution and I am pleased that it is now open to people of the same sex, as well as those of the opposite sex. My colleagues in the council’s registration team work hard to ensure that couples getting married at the civic centre have a day to remember and I know they all feel honoured to be able to share in these happy occasions.”
