We do: Youngest gay bride joins dozens of couples across the country on the first day same sex marriage is legal in Britain

Since midnight, gay couples across the country have been exchanging vows, including five in Brighton, another four in Westminster, and three in Islington, London.

One man who wed his partner at the stroke of 12 said he had never dreamed same sex marriages would happen during his lifetime.

John Coffey, who married Bernardo Marti, was the first in the country to request a midnight wedding slot, and believe their union at Westminster City Hall was the first.

Earlybirds: Peter McGraith (left) and David Cabreza embraced each other outside Islington Town Hall in the early hours of this morning after their wedding on the stroke of midnight

'We are changing one of the absolute most fundamental building blocks of our society - marriage.

'And that's quite daunting, actually,' Mr Coffey told the BBC.

They competed for the record with Peter McGraith and David Cabreza in Islington, who are also tied the knot at 00.01 this morning.

Mr McGraith and Mr Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years, said they wanted to wed as soon as the marriage laws changed.

Mr McGraith said: 'We are thrilled to be getting married.

Signing the book: Actor Andrew Wale (left) beamed at friends as his new husband Neil Allard signed the register

'It is a mark of significant social progress in the UK that the legal distinction between gay and straight relationships has been removed.

'Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we believe that this change in law will bring hope and strength to gay men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalised for their sexual orientation.'

Brighton couple Andrew Wale and Neil Allard also vied for the title with their wedding in the city's famous Royal Pavilion.

The couple, who got together after chatting on a bench in the building's gardens seven years ago, won a council competition to marry at the venue.

Friends and family flew in from across Europe to attend their wedding, which they have planned in just six weeks amid much media attention.

Mr Wale said: 'We had planned on a small wedding before we entered the competition.

'But having the Music Room as our venue, it was obvious that we and to invite as many friends as possible to enjoy the occasion.

'As far as the media interest goes, it's important for us to use the opportunity to raise awareness of the fact that, while we are overjoyed at the change in the law which enables us to marry, there are other people in the world who are not nearly as lucky as us.'

Proud: Mandy Hutchinson, right, and Trisha Doyle will become one of the first lesbian couples to marry in the UK

At 10am today Mandy Hutchinson, 43, became Mandy Hutchinson Doyle as she married her partner of four years, Trisha Doyle, 34. 

They were the first gay couple to marry in South Tyneside on the first day same-sex marriages are legalised in the UK.  

Miss Hutchinson, of South Shields, South Tyneside, said: 'It is a huge and momentous day for us.  

'It is history in the making for the town we live in, and we feel privileged to be a part of it.

'It has been a mad rush leading up to this day because we thought it would be August before the law is passed.  

'We had to save, save and save after Christmas once we knew the date was in March.  

'Now we will be the same as everyone else.  

'There should be no difference in treatment because of sexuality.  

'I know there will always be people who won't accept it and will be against it.  

'I hope that more gay couples get married, and that soon this will become the norm and won't even be talked about.  

'We will be together, bound by law, and this is very important for us.  

'If I died at work, for example, everything would then go to Trisha, and that is a comforting thought.

'What's mine is hers.'

They will marry at 10am today in front of 130 friends and family members

Miss Hutchinson, an ASDA delivery driver, has three children, Jade, 19, Holly, 18, and Cole, 16, from a heterosexual marriage before she began a relationship with Miss Doyle.

She proposed on the day the divorce papers came through.

They now live together in a home of their own.

Miss Hutchinson added: 'It won't change the love we have for each other.

'Trisha couldn't love me any more and I couldn't love her any more than I do. 

'It has never been an issue with my children. 

'It already feels like barriers have come down in society,' said Mandy, who proposed in August

'It is just normal to them and they are excited about the wedding.  

'On Sunday it is Mother's Day and they have gifts for my wife, then, Trisha as well.

'People have been approaching us and cuddling us.  

'This has been something to talk about and already it feels like the barriers have come down in society.

'This is definitely a step in the right direction.'

The first women to marry were Jewish couple Nikki Pettit, 29, and Tania Ward, 28.

Although Miss Ward is not Jewish, they both observe rituals and belong to the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood, London.

Today, they said their vows in a ceremony in Brighton performed by Rabbi Janet Daley.

Jewish bride Nikki Pettit (left) and Tania Ward pose for photos after their wedding ceremony in Brighton

First women: Nikki Pettit (left) and Tania Ward will marry in a Jewish ceremony in Brighton today

Bakery chef Miss Ward, who met childcare worker Miss Pettit on a blind date six years ago, said: 'It is important for us to have the same title as a heterosexual couple.

'The way the law was before, it just emphasised the difference of having a civil partnership.'

Addressing their marriage, chief executive for Liberal Judaism Rabbi Danny Rich said: 'Liberal Judaism is delighted to be correcting an injustice.

'The issue of equal marriage on which Liberal Judaism led and gave evidence to parliament has always been to us a matter of prophetic justice, in accordance with our founding principles that fairness trumps legal and ritual technicalities.

'We are delighted.'

It was a historic milestone marked by gay couples everywhere with midnight vows or the throwing of doves.

But one pair celebrated their right to wed in a slightly more flamboyant fashion.

Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor tied the knot today with a musical - with sung vows, sung reading and show-stopping ensembles featuring the whole confregation of family, friends and special guests.

Filmmaker Benjamin Till (left) and West End star Nathan Taylor (right) wrote and directed a musical staging in London's Alexandra Palace today during which they exchanged vows and said 'I do' to one another

Attended by celebrities including Gok Wan, the union of West End performer Nathan and filmmaker Ben at London's Alexandra Palace was entirely their own creation.

And the performance, titled Our Gay Wedding: The Musical, was filmed for television and will be commentated by Stephen Fry as it screens next week on Channel 4.

Benjamin and Nathan said: 'We’ve been together for nearly 12 years, and never thought we’d get the chance to get married, for real. 

'Doing what we both do for a living has meant that we’ve spent our entire lives expressing emotion through song, so getting married in a musical, particularly one that we’re writing ourselves, felt like the most natural thing in the world.'

John Hay, Commissioning Editor, Arts, said: 'We are proud to be marking a huge milestone for gay rights – a cause that has long been close to Channel 4’s heart.

'I’m enormously grateful to Benjamin and Nathan for sharing their day with us, and for the talent, creativity and generosity they’re bringing to this amazing piece of work.'

Landmark: Sir Elton John wed his partner David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony in 2005

On December 5, 2005, The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into effect in the UK, allowing gay or lesbian couples to have legal recognition of their relationship, and the same rights as married couples.

Due to 'banns' in place, the first ceremonies did not take place until December 21.

Any couples who enter into a civil partnership obtain the new legal status of 'Civil Partners', instead of the traditional husband and wife status.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish famously celebrated the landmark ruling by tying the knot on December 21, 2005, in an emotional civil partnership ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall after 12 years together.

Only a handful of guests witnessed the private ceremony - held in the same venue where the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles married in April.

Among them were close friends artist Sam Taylor-Wood and her husband, art dealer Jay Jopling.

Sir Elton's mother Sheila and stepfather Fred, and Mr Furnish's parents Gladys and Jack, who flew in from their native Canada, were also there, as was Sir Elton and Mr Furnish's black and white spaniel Arthur.

The happy couple emerged from the Guildhall arm-in-arm after the 20-minute ceremony.

Instead of their usual colourful attire, they wore sober black morning suits - Sir Elton's one flamboyant touch was a diamond brooch on his lapel.

The ceremony was conducted by registrar Clair Williams, who also presided over the union between Charles and Camilla.

The act was not met without controversy, as the government had expected. Christian groups spoke out against civil partnerships, and committed mixed sex couples who live together argue that they do not receive the same rights as 'married' same sex couples now do.