LONDON, March 12 -- Same sex couples in England and Wales wishing to be among the first to marry will be allowed to sign them up at their local register offices from Thursday, when an act of same sex marriage comes into force.

The British government published the announcement on its official website Wednesday, telling the same sex couples from the two regions to give notice and make an appointment at their local register offices, as different places have different rules for religious ceremonies.

It said same sex couples who married abroad under foreign law and are currently treated as civil partners will be recognised as being married in England and Wales from Thursday too.

In addition, same sex weddings in some British consulates and overseas armed force bases will be possible in accordance with a new passed act, and arrangements for same sex weddings in military chapels will be in place from June 2014.

Working to ensure that couples wishing to convert civil partnerships into marriages, and married people wanting to change their legal gender while remaining married, will be able to do so before the end of 2014.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act became law in July 2013 in England and Wales,and the first same sex marriages will take place on March 29 in those regions.

The Scottish government also approved the same sex marriage bill earlier on February this year, and its first same sex marriages are expected to be held in the autumn.