Territorial extent and application
Wales
19.The Act allows for marriage of same sex couples in Wales, where the effect will be the same as that in England. Marriage of same sex couples will be equivalent to marriage of opposite sex couples except in certain cases. Existing legislation will be understood as applying to same sex couples as it has done until now to opposite sex couples. New legislation will be read as applying in the same way to same sex couples as to opposite sex couples.
20.As explained above, the Act does not permit religious marriage ceremonies in accordance with the rites of the Church in Wales. However, it does contain provision for the Church in Wales to request a change in the law to enable the marriage of same sex couples according to the rites of the Church in Wales, should it wish to do so (see section 8 of the Act).
