On the 19th March 2014, same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales. But for those in a civil partnership, converting their union to a marriage wasn’t legally possible until today. The wheels of State turn ever so slowly and I think someone forgot to order the right stamp. Liam and I got hitched in 2008. We treated it like our wedding and splashed out on a once in a lifetime full production number with our nearest and dearest. Everyone had a splendid time (naturally, the free bar helped). Here’s a few snaps of that momentous day.
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00945-1.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2448,3264" title="King and King for a Day" data-image-title="King and King for a Day" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00945-1.jpg" style="width: 301px; height: 401px;" height="401" width="301" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00945-1.jpg?w=225" data-original-height="401" alt="" data-original-width="301" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207437125","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.66","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Mr & Mr
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00978-1.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2448,3264" title="Proud Granny" data-image-title="Proud Granny" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00978-1.jpg" style="width: 301px; height: 401px;" height="401" width="301" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc00978-1.jpg?w=225" data-original-height="401" alt="" data-original-width="301" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207439557","copyright":"","focal_length":"8.22","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> My Mum and Her Youngest Grandkids
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01073.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="3264,2448" title="The Congregation" data-image-title="The Congregation" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01073.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 149px;" height="149" width="199" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01073.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="149" alt="" data-original-width="199" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207444732","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.33","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Smile for the Camera
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01061.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="3264,2448" title="My In-Laws" data-image-title="My In-Laws" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01061.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 149px;" height="149" width="199" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01061.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="149" alt="" data-original-width="199" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207444149","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.37","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Liam’s Family
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dsc01005-1.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2448,3264" title="DSC01005-1" data-image-title="DSC01005-1" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dsc01005-1.jpg" style="width: 202px; height: 269px;" height="269" width="202" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dsc01005-1.jpg?w=225" data-original-height="269" alt="" data-original-width="202" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207440932","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.33","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Youngest and Eldest Sibling
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01077.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2448,3264" title="On the Buses" data-image-title="On the Buses" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01077.jpg" style="width: 202px; height: 269px;" height="269" width="202" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01077.jpg?w=225" data-original-height="269" alt="" data-original-width="202" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207445617","copyright":"","focal_length":"11.61","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> On the Buses
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01081.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2083,2890" title="Just Married" data-image-title="Just Married" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01081.jpg" style="width: 194px; height: 269px;" height="269" width="194" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01081.jpg?w=216" data-original-height="269" alt="" data-original-width="194" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"","camera":"DSC-T70","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207445680","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.66","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Just Wed
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01106.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="3072,2304" title="The Head Table" data-image-title="The Head Table" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01106.jpg" style="width: 385px; height: 289px;" height="289" width="385" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01106.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="289" alt="" data-original-width="385" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"","camera":"DSC-W55","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207409792","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.3","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> The Top Table
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" data-lage-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01159.jpg?w=610" data-orig-size="2304,3072" title="The Mother" data-image-title="The Mother" data-orig-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01159.jpg" style="width: 301px; height: 401px;" height="401" width="301" data-medium-file="http://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dsc01159.jpg?w=225" data-original-height="401" alt="" data-original-width="301" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"","camera":"DSC-W55","caption":"I","created_timestamp":"1207417567","copyright":"","focal_length":"6.3","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" /> Kisses for My Mother
Legally, we were civil partners, something that sounded like a firm of solicitors. But whatever the Law said, we always thought of ourselves as married. Now mind and state have converged. Today, on the first day possible, Liam made an honest man of me and me of him by legally converting our union at Norwich Register Office. We didn’t bang a gong beforehand or make a big song and dance out of it. There were no generous presents, smart suits, free-flowing bubbly or tearful speeches; just the same old shoes and an impromptu meal with a couple of old muckers. We’ve already had the big day. There’s no need to do that all over again. That would be greedy. We weren’t the very first to convert. Two other north folk of Norfolk beat us to the chequered flag. But a bronze medal suits us just fine.
I’ve always been out but now I’m really proud.
