UK couples can tie the knot in Parliament

The Houses of Parliament will be available as a wedding venue to members of the public, including gay couples, officials confirmed yesteday.

Westminster City Council has granted a licence approving two rooms in the historic building to be used for marriages and civil partnerships. It means that, for the first time, ordinary people will be able to tie the knot in the Palace of Westminster.

Until now, only MPs, peers, certain parliamentary officials and their families could be married in conventional weddings there.

Two rooms have now been approved as venues for civil ceremonies until January 25, 2013 after no objections were raised within a 21-day period, a spokesman for the council said.

The Jubilee Room, which overlooks Cromwell Green, has space for 80 people and the MPs' dining room, with views of the Thames, has space for 150.

But as religious sites cannot be used for civil partnerships or civil marriages, the licence rules out the 14th century Chapel of St Mary in Parliament.

Since 1995, authorities have been able to authorise venues for civil marriages based on the criteria that they "must be satisfied that the approved premises - and its management - will support the dignity of marriage".

In October, Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Commons Speaker John Bercow to allow civil partnerships to be held within Parliament for the first time.

Alison Cathcart, who has been Westminster's Superintendent Registrar for almost 20 years and has married celebrities including Sylvester Stallone, Joan Collins and Barbara Windsor, said: "I'm delighted that this prestigious venue has been granted approval and very much look forward to conducting the first civil ceremony in such famous and historical settings.