Are you talking to me?We could be. If you’re single and planning to get married, we definitely are. If you’re in a civil partnership and want to convert it to a marriage then you’re going to have to hang on a little longer while the government get themselves sorted (they’ll be ready by the end of 2014). But we promise that as soon as you can get married, we’ll be here to guide you through the process.

And it’s actually marriage this time?Yes absolutely. No one can say ‘you’re not really married’ because you will be! The new law means marriage is for everyone. It’s a chance to make a commitment to the person you love and have it recognised by everyone around you as a marriage. Simple as that.

But this is serious, right?It’s big, it’s serious and it’s legally binding, so you’ll have to think about the consequences. If it all goes wrong, you’ll have go through a divorce and might end up paying maintenance to your husband or wife and any children. Definitely not something to do on a whim!

‘The new law means that marriage is for everyone, no matter what your sexual orientation’

And what rights will we have when we’re married?The same rights as every other married couple in Wales and England when it comes to things like inheritance rights and rights in relation to your partner’s children. If your partner passes away you also have the right to bereavement benefits, compensation rights in the case of a fatal accident and the right to stay living in a shared home.

OK, we want to do this…Right. First, you will need to decide on a venue and a date and then contact the registration service to check they have registrars available. Once this has been agreed, you need to book an appointment with your local register office as you will both need to give a formal declaration to the registrar called a “notice of marriage”. You’ll need to take some ID – passport, driver’s licence, that sort of thing – and proof of address like a gas bill. The meeting’s nothing to stress about – it’s basically a chance to talk to the registrar about what kind of ceremony you want – but be prepared to answer a few questions about you and your partner. Once you’ve given this notice,  you’ll be able to get married after a minimum of sixteen days! You can do this up to a year before the date on which you want to marry.

‘ You now have the same rights as every other married couple!’

Can I get married in a church?Not necessarily. It depends on your church. Any religious building which isn’t run by the Church in Wales or Church of England can opt in to celebrating same-sex marriage. That means that you might be able to get married in a Quaker Meeting House or a Reform Synagogue if they apply for permission. But there are many other places in Wales and England which have been approved for civil marriage. You can get married in beautiful hotels, gorgeous stately homes and even some famous buildings!

What has to happen during the ceremony?Legally all you have to do is make two declarations in front of the registrar and two witnesses. You then sign the marriage register. All the rest? That’s up to you. You don’t need to have rings, tuxes, white dresses and all that jazz, but if that’s your thing then knock yourself out.

It’s your big day: make the most of it!

And what if a company doesn’t want to be involved?Tough! For them, we mean. While some religious groups aren’t planning to conduct same-sex weddings, you’re entitled to exactly the same standard of service as anyone else when it comes to photographers, bands, caterers…

‘ You can get married in beautiful hotels, gorgeous stately homes and even some famous buildings!’

But if they don’t want to?Then they’re breaking the law. Simple as that. Take it to the top of their company or pursue a case in the county court. You’re protected by law from discrimination so when it comes to your wedding don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t have. Contact Stonewall’s Cymru’s Information Service on 08000 50 20 20 or cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk for advice or support if you need it.

Will immigration officials recognise it?The Home Office will recognise it in exactly the same way they recognise anyone else’s marriage. That doesn’t always mean your husband or wife will be able to live in the UK – there are a few kinds of cases where that’s not possible but those restrictions apply to all couples.

What about when we go overseas?The number of countries that recognise same-sex marriage is growing all the time! Some of those that don’t recognise marriage will still recognise your union, but as a civil partnership. What that means depends on where you go but normally you’ll get some, if not all, the rights that other married couples get.

‘The number of countries that recognise same-sex marriage is growing all the time!’

‘Getting married is a key time to give things such as making a will some serious thought’

Do I need to update my will?We all need to plan for the future, to ensure that our families, partners and friends are provided for after our lifetime. Getting married is a key time to give this some serious thought and make sure your will fully reflects your wishes. Did you know you can also leave a gift to Stonewall Cymru in your will and help future generations of lesbian, gay and bisexual people around the world? It’s probably easier than you think – just visit www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/legacies for more information. 

But I still have more questions!We know that getting married can throw up all sorts of questions about pensions, inheritance and things like that. So if there’s more you’d like to know then check out all of our handy info at www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/marriage. While you’re there you can have a look at all of our lovely wedding goodies to help you celebrate your special day (and support Stonewall Cymru at the same time!) And remember you can always give us a ring on 08000 50 20 20 or email us at cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk

The passage of equal marriage was a huge step forward for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. But our work here at Stonewall Cymru

is far from done. There’s still lots to do whether it’s fighting homophobic bullying in our schools, tackling homophobic hate crime on our streets, or supporting activists across the world in

their struggle for equality. You can become a Friend of Stonewall Cymru for just £5 per month

and help us fight homophobia all year round. Find out how at www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/friends

Or why not join our volunteering team and become a key part of our work? Find out more at www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/volunteer

Produced for Stonewall by Simon Gage. Designed by Roelof Bakker.