I remember it like it was yesterday when news from Albany trickled down into my New York City neighborhood that Gov. Andrew Cuomo had signed the marriage equality bill. That hot June 24 night was filled with celebration, and a month later, on the day that the law was put into effect, over 800 LGBT couples said “I do.”
Within this past year, about 3,037 same-sex couples have been married outside New York City, about six percent of the total weddings, according to USA Today. About 5,054 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in New York City as of February, the most recent data available, and brought in $259 million of economic benefits in New York City alone.
And some of those couples have shared their love stories with us in our monthly issues. Here’s a look back at the year of same-sex marriage in New York on Equally Wed:
Yelena and Barbara in Brooklyn, N.Y.: August 14, 2011
Jewish tradition infused with Russian celebration turned out to be the perfect equation for a this couple’s Brooklyn-based nuptials.
Kirsten and Maria in New York City: August 19, 2011
Our founders, who had married in 2009 in their home state of Georgia (which prompted the creation of Equally Wed!), flew up to New York City after the marriage equality bill passed in 2011.
“When he [the justice of the peace] declared us as married by the power vested in him by the ‘great state of New York,’ I wept with happiness. I was moved beyond measure by the sheer history that we were making as two women—two of little more than 100,000 according to the most recent Census—who’ve been recorded in a legally binding agreement as married,” says Kirsten.
Kim and Randie in Hudson, N.Y.: September 18, 2011
Held at a pictorial property in upstate New York, Kim and Randie sculpted a rustic chic, detailed day that reveled in yesteryear.
“We planned our ceremony, well most of our wedding, before we knew same-sex marriage would be legalized in New York so for us the ceremony was not just the symbolic representation of our union, but we considered it the actual binding contract of our marriage and our witnesses (all our guests) the binding force,” says Kim. “There was so much love that day. I think something else that really made it special was that so many of the people at our wedding, many of whom are not political or activists, had taken the time in the months previous to call and write their senators to make same-sex marriage legal in New York. There were several moments during our ceremony when the guests burst into applause and hoots at the mention of our marriage being legal or our hope for further equality,” says Kim.
Jay and Paul in Garrison, N.Y.: September 18, 2011
Their energy-infused wedding was a contemporary take on Jewish tradition.
“We had multiple ceremonies, actually. September 18 was the main event and Jewish ceremony. We also had a wedding September 25 in Boston—we had thought that would have to be the legal wedding, but it turned out to be a day to celebrate with our community and family in Boston,” explains Paul.
Cynthia and Dana in Brooklyn, N.Y.: September 24, 2011
These New Yorkers turned to tradition to make their wedding dreams come true, proving there’s nothing untraditional about LGBTQ love.
“Eight months after the proposal, the New York state legislature legalized same-sex marriage in New York. That night, Cynthia asked me for my ring back, got down on her knee, and asked me to legally marry her in New York. I said yes, of course!” exclaims Dana. “It was actually pretty perfect because we got to be part of an historic moment with the passing of the marriage equality law. We were kind of famous, too, as an engaged same-sex couple living in a small area like Albany, we had the opportunity to be featured in People magazine with other engaged and recently married LGBT couples.”
Jenna and Christina in West Hempstead, N.Y.: October 23, 2011
Jenna and Christina had a vintage-inspired wedding that included nostalgic touches such as library catalog escort cards, music from the Roaring Twenties, and a costume photo booth.
“I had an overwhelming feeling of pride. I was proud to be legally marrying the woman I loved, and to be surrounded by all these people that were happy for us,” says Jenna.
Photo: Timothy Lee Photographers; Angie McCaffrey of Entwined Studio; Sam and Gertie Photography; Bre Sessions; Fedorov Foto; Hudson River Photographer; Alan Abrams Photography
