A Newcastle Emlyn couple have become the first man and woman in Wales to form a civil partnership.

Carmarthenshire’s registration services team pulled out all the stops to help Jake Rayson and Emma Wilson form a civil partnership as man and woman in the UK, just after the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.

New legislation came into force on 31 December that allows opposite-sex couples to be recognised as civil partners for the first time in the UK and at 12.02am today, they became the first in Wales to do so.

Same-sex couples have been able to form civil partnerships since 2004 but following a lengthy campaign, the UK Parliament passed law earlier this year to extend that right to couples of the opposite sex.

It means all couples can now enter a legally recognised partnership, as an alternative to marriage.

Jake and Emma have been eagerly awaiting the change in legislation.

They were one of the first in the UK to give notice of opposite-sex civil partnership earlier this month and chose the Carmarthenshire Register Office at The Old School, Parc Myrddin in Carmarthen to hold their ceremony.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s registration services team was keen to help make the couple’s dreams come true.

Cllr David Jenkins, executive board member for registration services, said: “It would be an honour for Carmarthenshire Registration Services to be the first to host this landmark event, and a delight to help Jake and Emma fulfil their dreams.

“I’m grateful to the registration team, and everyone else, who is working to make this possible for the couple.

“I’d like, on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, to congratulate them and wish them well for their future together.”

Jake and Emma met in London before moving to Carmarthenshire for a change of lifestyle in 2015 with their first child Archie, shortly before welcoming their second child, Madoc.

They say a civil partnership allows them the freedom to choose an alternative to marriage, which they view as unequal and patriarchal.

“We don’t believe in the religious and patriarchal structures that underpin matrimony,” said Jake.

“We also object to the historical practice of unequal marriage vows, but want our children to have the same legal rights as the children of a married couple.”

Speaking before the ceremony, the couple said: “We want to be part of an historic moment and hopefully be the first to form an opposite-sex civil partnership in the UK on New Year’s Eve,” said Emma.

“It’s important to us for many reasons, and it will be a special way to commit to each other and celebrate.”