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 Women have overtaken men in the number of same-sex unions for the first time since civil partnerships were legalised in 2005.
The number of lesbian couples tying the knot has steadily increased, with 2010 being a record year as 51% of all partnerships were female couples.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show this amount crept up from 49 per cent of female same-sex unions in 2009 and 40 per cent in 2006, the first full year of the legislation.
Same-sex couples formed 6,385 civil partnerships in the UK in 2010, with 3,119 male and 3,266 female, an increase of 1.7% compared with 2009.
The number of civil partnerships in 2010 increased by 1.7% overall to 5,536 in England and 9.8% to 268 in Wales.Yet in Scotland the number of civil partnerships fell by 6.6% to 465. However, in Northern Ireland the numbers increased by 21% to 116.
 Male civil partners in the UK remained, on average, older than female civil partners in 2010. For men, the average age fell from 41.2 years in 2009 to 40.6 years in 2010 and for women, from 38.9 to 38.4 years.
Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority had the most same-sex unions in 2010, with 129 male and 97 female partnerships, followed by the London Borough of Westminster carrying out 154 male and 68 female partnerships.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005 in the UK, the first day couples could give notice of their intention to form a civil partnership. The Act enables same-sex couples aged 16 and over to obtain legal recognition of their relationship.
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Wedding Magazine 
