A Maidstone venue hosted a landmark marriage this morning as a gay couple became the first in Kent to get married after legislation was passed allowing civil partnerships to be converted.

Phil and Ian Collins were among the first in England and Wales to act on the change of law during a ceremony at Archbishop’s Palace register office in Mill Street at 9am.

Within an hour of the new legislation being passed in the House of Lords on November 18, the couple, from Walmer, were on the phone to the venue to book the earliest available slot.

Phil, 49, said: “For us this is all about equality, being able to say we’re married. In many countries civil partnerships are not recognised and on forms you have to tick the box for civil partnership, which immediately shows you are in a same sex relationship."

The civil servant added: “We are proud to be some of the first people to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in this way.”

The Deal couple, who first met online in 2011, celebrated their civil partnership on March 29 2012 at the same venue and said that the importance of the day combined with a shared interest in history and passion for the venue encouraged them to come back.

Ian, 42, who took Phil’s surname at the 2012 service, said: “Most people at work would already refer to us as husband and husband. But this is about legality and being able to say we’re married.”

Medical professional Ian said: “I think it has been something of a natural progression in terms of gay rights.

"I don’t think marriage would have had such overwhelming support if it was passed 20 years ago. People have got used to civil partnerships and gay role models and marriage was the next step.”

The service saw the couple rework parts of the forms from their civil partnership in order to convert it. The changes now mean that technically Phil and Ian have been married since the date of their civil partnership.

Superintendent registrar for Kent, Sharon Birch, said: “We are proud to be able to provide this service for same sex couples. The conversion ran without a hitch and we look forward to the next services.”

In total 49 conversions are booked for the next three days at registered venues across the county, with more than 100 booked in Kent since the legislation was passed.

Couples who had a civil partnership before March 29 will be able to book the conversion free of charge at register offices.

There is a second option available where couples can get married at a number of other venues and can invite guests, with £45 taken off the cost.