He and partner Jared Cranney said they "never thought this day would come" after tying the knot in the Members' Dining Room, overlooking the Thames.

Theirs was the first same-sex "marriage" to take place in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament after Speaker John Bercow obtained the necessary licence from Westminster City Council.

In a statement released afterwards, the couple said they were "enormously grateful" to Mr Bercow and Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman for making the "really special day" possible.

"We never thought this day would come - and never thought we'd have to worry about cakes and flowers and rings," they said. "It's amazing how much things have changed in such a short time. Only a few years ago there was a different gay age of consent, you could sack people or refuse to serve them just because of their sexuality and gays were banned from the military, from adopting or getting married.

"Parliament is special because it has made it possible. We are delighted that everyone in the UK can now share in a privilege that used to be available just to straight MPs."

The move to allow civil partnerships in the palace was mooted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year when he gave evidence to the Speaker's Conference on diversity at Westminster.

Weddings were already available within the grounds of the Houses of Parliament, in the palace chapel. But as a religious venue, the chapel could not accommodate civil partnerships.

Members of the public are also now to be allowed to marry at the palace, with slots to be allocated via a ballot.

After the ceremony, Mr Bercow was hosting drinks in Speaker's House followed by an evening reception in the Pugin-designed state dining room. Mr Bryant and Mr Cranney, a company secretary, met on the local election campaign trail in April last year.