The South Wales Times South Wales Times January 2015 | Page 26

Page 20 . South Wales & Three Counties Herald . Issue 004 Issue 004 . South Wales & Three Counties Herald . Page 21

The Whitminster Inn

The Whitminster Inn is an independent family business situated between Gloucester and Stroud on the A38 , and as well as being home to a well-liked restaurant and bar , it also plays host to regular live music events .

Proving a particularly popular pull for music lovers are the lively Tribute and Theme Evenings held in the Orchard Marquee – a lavish venue situated in The Whitminster Inn ’ s apple orchard , where a diverse array of performers entertain revellers every month . The Orchard is also fully licensed for civil weddings , and comes complete with a private bar and professional catering for up to 300 guests , plus there ’ s a stage for performers and dance floor for boogying the evening away . The Whitminster Inn is a privately owned , family run business that has an extensive range of facilities . We specialise in weddings and can offer you the perfect day in one of our three dedicated function venues . We are licensed to hold Civil Ceremonies . Our largest facility , The Orchard marquee , is situated in our picturesque cider apple orchard . The marquee is a luxury self contained venue with a large private bar , seating area , dance floor and modern toilet facilities . The maximum seating capacity in the Orchard Marquee is 250 , however the size can be reduced for smaller functions by the use of screens . For a more intimate celebration , perhaps you would like to consider our smaller function rooms which are able to cater for 50 - 80 people ? For further information , please contact our Events Co-Ordinator . Full catering for weddings is provided at circular tables seating 6 to 12 people . Menus are available to suit every taste , from three or four course sit down meals , to magnificent rolling buffets , Chinese menus and evening buffets . Please Click here to watch a video of a wedding at our beautiful venue .

For more information or to recieve a wedding pack please contact our Events Co-ordinator , Sarah Fisher on 01452 740234 who will be happy to guide you through every detail , from your first enquiry to the day of your event .

Sense of Occasion

“ Having an impeccably attired Toastmaster welcoming our guests and orchestrating the proceedings so eloquently , was absolutely fantastic . He conducted our event with gracious

Scottish Wedding Flowers

Husband and wife team John and Frances are friendly and helpful nothing is too much bother , being a couple there is always someone for the heavy work and someone for the fine detail , although they don ’ t specify which is which . They work well together and with other vendors , can mingle unobtrusively getting the job done without fuss or mess , and last but not least are trained florists able to decorate even the dingiest corner with a surprising bit of Scottish themed decoration . Most people want one or two things , to save money and to ease pressure . We can do both . Whether you live abroad and your whole Scottish Wedding arrives in a box with easily readable instructions or within distance of us being with you on your day , we are happy to

Scottish Wedding

Flowers

www . scottish-wedding-flowers . co . uk

Hand-made baby kilts , garters , favours , tartan ring pillows , thistle buttonholes , Heather buttonholes and lots more authority without being overbearing . Phil ’ s friendly professional approach provided the style and excellence that ’ s associated with gracious hospitality , his kind obliging charm contributed immensely to our day ”.

include relevant Scottish traditions and trinkets at no extra charge . We guarantee to save you money on at least some of the things you require with some freebies along the way . A good mum will make sure her daughters day runs smoothly , but why should she do all the donkey work , like taxi-ing relatives , fixing the broken cake adding or removing guests as they decline / accept at the last minute leaving you with a table in the centre of the room stuffed to overflowing or virtually empty , we take the place of at least two good mothers , and take on all aspects of the day including the lead up to the day so it runs smoothly for the bride and groom and all fixable traumas are fixed with no fuss , the bride only finding out AFTER the day . We make sure you are free and able to stick to a timescale on the day that fits in with what you want to be doing , because there are two of us we literally can be at two places at once for you , yet you only pay one planning service charge .

01501 746153

Order your silk wedding flowers by telephone or on-line and be `Wowed ’

Carriages in the Park is a local company

Carriages in the Park is a local company managed and run by horsemen with a lifetime experience in the breeding and competition world . We have drawn on this experience to add a horsedrawn carriage company to our Pembrokeshire base .

We pride ourselves on our standards of turn out and ability to provide the appropriate horses and carriages to suit the event , supported by experienced staff to ensure that your day goes smoothly .

Our beautiful wedding carriage is complimented by our range of additional carriages for attendants and family members , all drawn by our elegant horses , bringing that romantic ambience to your special day . Carriages from 2 to 10 seater for weddings , proms , fetes , carnivals , parties anniversaries and charity events . Fully insured and licensed . For an accurate quote , please e-mail us . Please include as much information as possible including start and arrival destination , length of time required ( in hours ), date and what your special occasion is . Please refer to our terms and conditions .

LONDON BUS 4 HIRE Classic routemaster buses for hire

Wedding day transport for the bride , groom and guests on a classic London Routemaster bus . We are based in Monmouthshire , South Wales . Bus hire charges start at just £ 649 for weddings . Also available for proms and other events .

Visit our website www . londonbus4hire . com or ring 07534 904650 for availability . E-mail : info @ londonbus4hire . com

CLASSIC LONDON TAXI AND MK2 JAGUAR FOR HIRE Also available for weddings . Prices from £ 250 when hired with one of our buses .

MPs have backed a bill to legalize gay marriage in England and Wales

MPs have backed a bill to legalize gay marriage in England and Wales , including by those religious organizations which want to offer it . But what is behind the proposal , and why are Anglican churches excluded ? What has the government announced ? In its Marriage ( Same-Sex Couples ) Bill - which MPs backed after its second reading in the House of Commons - the government proposes that couples who are the same sex can get married . However , the change will not be forced on religious organizations - they will have to “ opt in ” to holding ceremonies if they want to hold gay weddings . The bill specifies that the Church of England and Church in Wales would be banned in law from offering same-sex marriages . Why are the Anglican Churches not included ? Ministers had already stated that legislation allowing same-sex marriages in England and Wales would not compel any religious organization to conduct such marriages . Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the Church of England and the ( Anglican ) Church in Wales had stated their strong opposition to same-sex marriages . But they are not the only religious organizations to have done so . The legal ban may have the effect of protecting the Church of England from legal claims that as the Established Church it is bound to marry anyone who requests it . How does same-sex marriage differ from civil partnership ? Civil partnership is a legal relationship exclusively for same-sex couples , distinct from marriage . It offers the same legal treatment as marriage across a range of matters , such as inheritance , pensions provision , life assurance , child maintenance , next of kin and immigration rights . Opposite-sex couples can opt for a religious or civil marriage ceremony , whereas a same-sex partnership is an exclusively civil procedure . Couples in civil partnerships will be able to convert their relationships into marriages if they wish - but they will be under no obligation to do so if they would rather retain their civil partnership . Why do campaigners want same-sex marriage ? Supporters cite a number of reasons for wanting gay marriage , including that separate civil partnerships perpetuate the notion that same-sex relationships are not as valid as heterosexual ones and that legal rights are still not exactly the same as those conferred by marriage . Home Secretary Theresa May and Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone say : “ Put simply , it ’ s not right that a couple who love each other and want to formalize a commitment to each other should be denied the right to marry .” Campaigners also say there would be international recognition for samesex marriage . They say there is no universally-accepted recognition of civil partnerships and they differ widely from one country to the next . What assurances have been provided for religious organizations ? Mrs . Miller has promised a “ quadruple lock ” for religious groups who oppose gay marriage , involving :

• No religious organization or individual minister being compelled to marry same-sex couples or to permit this to happen on their premises

• Making it unlawful for religious organizations or their ministers to marry same-sex couples unless their organization ’ s governing body has expressly opted in to provisions for doing so

• Amending the 2010 Equality Act to ensure no discrimination claim can be brought against religious organizations or individual ministers for refusing to marry a same-sex couple

• The legislation explicitly stating that it will be illegal for the Church of England and the Church in Wales to marry same-sex couples

What has this got to do with the Church of England ’ s status as the official state church ? The Church of England is the established church in England - its own Canon Law is part of the law of the land . One of its canons states that marriage is in its nature a union of “ one man and one woman ”. This will remain in force , says the government . The Church had warned that , had Parliament changed the definition of marriage , this could have called into question the “ status and effect of the canonical provisions that set out the Church ’ s doctrine of marriage as being between one man and one woman ”. The government would thus have been overlooking “ the implications of what is proposed for the position of the established Church ”. Could the legalization of gay marriage have led to the disestablishment of the Church ? The Church had warned that it could . If the legal position ended up so that same-sex marriage could no longer be limited to civil ceremonies , it says , “ the whole range of rights and duties that exist in relation to marriage and the Church of England would have to be re-examined ”. “ The ultimate outcome for both Church and State would be quite uncertain ,” it says . Where do other Churches and religions stand on the issue ? The vice-president of the Catholic Bishops ’ Conference of England and Wales , Archbishop Peter Smith , had said in response to the government ’ s consultation : “ In the interest of upholding the uniqueness of marriage as a civil institution for the common good of society , we strongly urge the government not to proceed with legislative proposals which will enable all couples , regardless of their gender , to have a civil marriage ceremony .” Following the government ’ s initial announcement of its outline plans on 11 December , the archbishop , along with Archbishop Vincent Nichols , the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales , said opponents of gay marriage should lobby MPs “ clearly , calmly and forcefully , and without impugning the motives of others ”. The Muslim Council of Great Britain has said it is against the proposals , calling them “ unnecessary and unhelpful ”. Among Jews , The Liberal and Reform synagogues support gay marriage while the United synagogue opposes it . Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks , meanwhile , has yet to comment on the proposals . Lord Singh , head of the Network of Sikh Organizations , has said gay marriage would “ dilute ” the definition of marriage in religious scriptures . Quakers have campaigned in favour of same-sex marriage and will allow ceremonies to take place on their premises .