manchester news
Thursday, 8th December 2005
Judith and Mary will be first gay couple to 'marry'
Anne Richardson  MARY and Judith have registered to be 'married'.Judith Tomlinson and Mary Harrison were first in the queue at Metropolitan House, Hobson Street, to register their details.
It means they are entitled to hold their wedding ceremony on December 21, which is also the date of their 31st anniversary together.
Three other couples also registered with the Oldham registrar on Monday – the first day that the new law came into effect. Following a statutory notice period of 16 days, couples are then entitled to hold a ceremony.
Judith said: "It was a first for the registrar as well for us, so it took quite a while to record our details. It is normally all done on computer, but there isn’t a system set up for that yet so we had to do it all by hand on forms.
"But after we had done it it felt official and like suddenly it has become real. When we first heard about the change in the law in July and decided we wanted to be the first couple to do it, December 21 seemed so far off.
"But now it’s only two weeks away! It’s quite nerve-wracking, but very exciting too."
Coverage
Judith and Mary’s wedding plans have been featured in both the press and on television, and the happy couple had a camera crew from the BBC filming them all day on Monday, as they met with the registrar, spoke to their caterers and prepared their outfits.
But, despite all the press interest in their nuptials, Judith sounds like a typical bride to be, arranging dress fittings, hair and make up trials, caterers, transport and invites.
She said: "There have been a few hiccups with my dress and with my hair and make-up, but I think that always happens. Hopefully everything will go fine on the day itself.
"It’s made more difficult by the fact that it’s mid-week, so early in the morning and so close to Christmas.
"But that’s when the law says we can go ahead so there’s not much we can do. But the fact that it’s our anniversary will make it all even more special." Submit your comments
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