Hundreds take wedding vows

SEATTLE – Scores of same-sex couples crowded Seattle City Hall for a day of wedding ceremonies on Sunday, the first day they could marry after the state’s voter-approved gay marriage law took effect.

While numerous weddings were taking place across the state, both private and public, the city hall weddings were the largest public event, with more than 130 couples taking part. The city set up five separate chapels to accommodate the revelers. From 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., cheers and applause regularly broke out as marriages became official.

After couples married, they exited city hall, greeted by a steady rain and dozens of supporters who shouted “congratulations” and offered flowers as they descended a large staircase to the street.

“I don’t even have words for this,” said Caren Goldenberg, of Seattle, who married her partner of seven years, Casey Evans. “It just makes me really proud of my city.”

Mayor Mike McGinn, who greeted couples at they arrived, called it a “great day, a joyous day.”

“It’s really wonderful,” he said. “A new civil right is going to be recognized in this great civil institution.”

Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale, a Seattle couple who celebrated their six-year anniversary the night before, hugged and kissed to cheers and camera flashes as they took their vows before one of the 16 judges who volunteered to officiate weddings Sunday.

“We’re totally thrilled,” Bacon said. The couple had a commitment ceremony in August, but said this day was particularly special.

“We had looked at this as maybe a day we would sign a piece of paper and seal the deal, and instead we’re having this huge party being thrown in our honor,” Bacon said. “It’s just mind-blowing.”

Nancy Monahan, 57, a retired petty officer with the Coast Guard, waited outside before the weddings began with her partner of 14 years, Deb Needham, 48.

Monahan was wearing her uniform, and Needham was wearing an ivory dress and jacket and matching hat. They said they wanted to join the large wedding event at city hall because of the significance of the day.

“It’s not very private, but very historic,” Needham said, to which Monahan added, “And very awesome.”

Some courthouses, including in King and Thurston counties, opened right at midnight and started marrying couples. Private weddings are expected to take place across the state, as well as some other public events, including the marriage of two couples after the end of the first act of a Seattle Men’s Chorus performance in Seattle. The Paramount Theater in Seattle was also to host a large wedding reception for couples.

Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples picked up their marriage licenses as early as 12:01 a.m. Thursday, but because of the state’s three-day waiting period, the earliest weddings could take place was just after midnight, early Sunday morning. In King County, home to Seattle, more than 600 same-sex marriage licenses were issued by Saturday.

Robin Wyss, of Seattle, said the wedding ceremony to her partner, Danielle Yung, was “more emotional than I thought it would be,” in part because Yung is five months pregnant.

“Our friends are here, it’s a beautiful space and there’s all of this love and appreciation,” she said. “We’ve been thinking about this as more of a political celebration for all of Washington state, but obviously it’s very meaningful for us and our future child as well.”