London: 70 couples marry in Southbank mass wedding
70 couples have taken part in a mass wedding in London, to celebrate the introduction of same-sex marriage.
The event, which saw 15 same-sex couples and 55 mixed-sex couples tie the knot across 6 ceremonies this weekend, was part of Southbank’s Festival of Love programme, which celebrates the introduction of equal marriage earlier this year.
The event is thought to be one of the largest mass weddings ever held in the UK, though it is dwarfed by Toronto’s mass same-sex wedding in June, where 115 couples married.
Jude Kelly, artistic director of Southbank Centre, told the BBC: “We were just thinking how do we celebrate love here, and so we came up with this notion that if we invited all couples, gay or straight, old or young, to celebrate their vows together that would be a wonderful symbolic act here.”
The event cost £1000 per couple, including registrar, ceremony, photography and entertainment.
A series of other wedding-themed activities took place, including a wedding themed dance competition, and a Wedding Olympics, while the centre also uneviled a 45-foot inflatable church.
Over 1400 same-sex weddings have taken place in the UK so far this year.
Watch a clip via the Independent below:
