Radio station Gaydar reports that Edinburgh will prove the top choice in Scotland for gay weddings when Civil Partnerships become legal in December 2005. Ranked third in the UK overall, after Brighton and London, Edinburgh attracted 16 per cent of the nation's vote.

This finding comes as no surprise to Scotland's wedding planners. Edinburgh has long been the country's favourite wedding destination for heterosexual couples. Add to its traditional popularity factors the existence of a vibrant gay scene - http://www.edinburgh-pubs.co.uk/edinburgh_gay_bars_ edinburgh_gay_clubs.html - and you have all the ingredients for a forthcoming gay weddings bonanza!

In another recent poll, this time by YouGov, Edinburgh emerged as the 'fifth most talked about city in the world'.

These are just some of the things that attract people to Edinburgh with weddings in mind.

Edinburgh Castle - the number one tourist attraction and the ultimate wedding venue for those wanting tradition in bucketsful. You can marry in St Margaret's Chapel, the Gatehouse Suite, the Jacobite Room or the Queen Anne Building. Just imagine saying 'I do' as the one o'clock gun goes off! http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/tour/castle.html

The Royal Mile - connecting the Castle with the Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh's oldest street combines shopping and history in sufficient quantity to satisfy the most demanding of visitor. http://www.aboutscotland.com/edin/royal.html

Princes Street - and speaking of shopping, take a walk along the city's second most famous street for some retail therapy http://www.electricscotland.com/history/picturesque/page12.htm

Edinburgh Festival - fancy a bit of culture? Try http://www.electricscotland.com/history/picturesque/page12.htm

The Fringe - or some alternative culture? http://www.edfringe.com/

The Military Tattoo - if men in uniforms by the score, and bagpipes by the hundred is your thing, try http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

Cool Culture - find information about theatres and concerts, national galleries and museums, commercial galleries and art at http://www.coolgossip-edinburgh.com/interests/theatre_museums. shtml

More shopping? - http://www.edinburghcastle.biz/shopping.html

Top quality hotels - http://www.stayinedinburgh.net/

And budget hotels - http://www.stayinedinburgh.net/

Restaurants to suit every taste and pocket - http://www.edinburghrestaurants.co.uk/

Edinburgh Airport - easy access to the capital by Edinburgh International Airport http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/jcurry/

What more could you ask of a weddings location? History with a capital 'H', shopping with a capital 'S', and entertainment with a capital 'E'. The area boasts a huge selection of wedding venues, offering both traditional and contemporary ceremonies. And, the city is gay friendly. What are you couples waiting for?