An invite to a civil partnership ceremony

I had an email from a couple of good gay friends this evening; they have been together for almost twenty-five years. The email was to warn me to keep a particular day in November free, because I'll shortly receive an invitation to a 'wedding'; I must say I'm pretty excited. They are good people and I like them a lot; I recently (a couple of months ago) attended the 80th birthday party of one of the pair and it was a great afternoon. I had wondered if/when one of the gay or lesbian couples I know would 'tie the knot' and I'm really happy that this seems to be the first. I'm looking forward to the happy day when I can witness this long-term couple formalise their relationship before the law.