Clare Churcher and Lisa Powell have made history by becoming the first same-sex couple to get married in Falmouth.

The pair had planned a civil partnership, but when the law changed in March they jumped at the chance to hold an actual wedding rather than a civil ceremony. So, surrounded by family and friends, the couple exchanged vows at the Falmouth register office on April 19.

“We had booked the date back in August when it was planned as a civil partnership, but they rang us up a week before to say the law had changed and we could have it changed to a marriage if we wanted to,” said Clare, 23.

“We were over the moon, really happy. We wanted to get married in the first place, but didn’t know the law was changing so when they rang we knew we were going to go for it, although we had to pay extra money.

“Getting married means a lot more to both of us. A man and woman can get married, so why not a woman and woman? We fall in love and think the same way – it did mean a lot more to us to have a proper marriage.

“As far as we are aware we were the first (same sex marriage) in Falmouth and only the third in Cornwall. It’s like making history, which is quite nice.”

Clare and Lisa, 40, have been together for five years and have lived together for most of that time.

Their wedding was attended by 44 friends and relatives who enjoyed a meal at the Boslowick Inn in Falmouth before heading to an evening reception at the Woodlane Social Club.

The couple, who live at Berkeley Vale, later jetted off on honeymoon, enjoying a week in the sun in Tenerife.