Great news for same-sex couples! While same-sex marriage has been legal in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014, as of last night it is now possible for same-sex couples to tie the knot all over the UK.
A historic moment
Northern Ireland had retained a ban on same-sex marriage due to religious and conservative social pressures. Previously, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly have voted a total of five times on whether or not to introduce same-sex marriage. In fact, during the most recent vote in November 2015, politicians voted to support same-sex marriage for the first time, with a narrow majority of 53 votes to 52. However, the DUP then blocked this decision. After this, challenges to that block in court didn’t succeed.
But, luckily for same-sex marriage campaigners, Westminster has now overruled the DUP due to assembly laws. While Northern Ireland's government would usually decide the law themselves, Westminster stepped in due to the fact the assembly at Stormont has not met for more than 1,000 days. This was because the biggest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, cannot decide on a power-sharing agreement. As a result, MPs in Westminster passed the law, which came into force at midnight on Tuesday 22 October.
What now?
The new legislation says the Westminster government must bring in regulations to provide for same-sex marriage by 13 January 2020. Once this legislation comes into effect, couples are required to give 28 days' notice to marry. Coincidently, this means that the first same-sex weddings will take place in the week of Valentine's Day 2020!
Ready to start searching for a wedding venue in Northern Ireland? We love Solis Lough Eske Castle, Drenagh, Hillsborough Castle and Belle Isle Castle.