Elton John to Wed Partner David Furnish in May

Now that gay marriage has been legalized in the U.K., the singer and his longtime partner are planning to tie the knot

Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage

Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish are officially headed to the altar and set to be married in May.

The two have been in a British civil partnership for eight years, but plan to wed now that gay couples can legally get married in England.

At John’s 67th birthday at Fizz Las Vegas on Friday, Furnish told the Las Vegas Review Journal: “We don t feel the need to take an extra step legally. But since we re committed for life, we feel it s really important to take that step, and take advantage of that amazing change in legislation. We all live by example.”

Known for throwing large parties – they held a $2 million reception following their civil ceremony in 2005 – the couple said their wedding will be the antithesis of that.

“I think what we ll do is go to a registry office in England in May, and take the boys with us, and a couple of witnesses, Furnish, 51, said.

The couple have two children: Zachary, 3, and Elijah, 16 months.