The Office for National Statistics latest press release reports that Civil Partnerships have dropped by 46%, with 8,728 Civil Partnerships formed in 2007. We all know facts do not lie; statistics can all too easily be misinterpreted. The market has not dropped it is actually level.

Gino Meriano Founder of Pink Weddings Ltd says, "When you look at what drives the gay and lesbian wedding market it becomes very clear that this reduction would happen but it isn't a dramatic market drop, it's simply levelling itself out. It is a fundamental error to count the first year's figures as typical. The first year and a bit's figures reflect the massive pent-up demand from gay and lesbian couples typically seeking to gain their legal rights is anomalous. Market figures logically have to be based on 2007 onwards for an accurate trend."

If you do the math, the Government states around 6% of the UK's population is gay and given the average age for a Civil Partnership is over 35 means the true level for Civil Partnership formations averages between 800 and 1000 a month. Looking at these current average figure of 750 per month, we have not done bad at all.

Arguably, the Office for National Statistics has produced useful figures but their headline is at the very least attention seeking.

Market watchers should be aware that the real same-sex wedding market has not dropped by 46%. It is wrong to judge by using 2005/6 figures rather analysts need to wait for 2008's figures to begin to accurately gage the Civil Partnership Market.