Politicians from the main parties have hailed the change in the law.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, said "Britain will be a different place", but some religious groups say some remain "deeply uncomfortable" about it.
Scotland passed a similar law allowing gay marriage in February. Northern Ireland has no plans to allow same-sex marriage.
Mr Clegg congratulated his party for being part of the reform, saying: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that."
Labour leader Ed Miliband congratulated gay couples planning to tie the knot.
"This is an incredibly happy time for so many gay couples and lesbian couples who will be getting married, but it's an incredibly proud time for our country as well, recognising equal marriage in law," he said. (BBC video and BBC audio) » | Friday, March 28, 2014
