Weddings abound as Washington's gay marriage law kicks in

Hundreds of same-sex couples flocked to get married in the northwest state of Washington, the first day possible after the state approved gay marriage in a referendum in November. At the Seattle city hall, a parade of couples streamed through -- to the cheers and music of a crowd that had gathered on the rainy day to celebrate the advance for gay rights. Some 140 weddings were expected Sunday at the Seattle city hall, but Mayor Mike McGinn said the final tally could end up being higher. "We're ahead of schedule here at City Hall -- we can take 10 more couples. If you want to marry here, check in at standby on 5th Ave," the mayor tweeted Sunday afternoon. He also tweeted to thank Balkan brass band Zirkonium Orkestar "for serenading newlyweds as they come down the stairs." According to local newspaper the Seattle Times, more than 800 couples statewide got marriage licenses on Thursday, the first day the law came into effect. With a state-mandated three-day waiting period to have a wedding, Sunday was therefore the first day ceremonies could take place. Like several parts of the state, King County, which includes Seattle, started officiating marriages as soon as the clock struck midnight. Among the many couples who paraded through the Seattle city hall were Robin and Danielle, who did not give their last names. "We renewed our vows today," Robin said via webcam, wearing, like her wife, a white jacket with a rose in her lapel. "We have a stronger than ever relationship now, recognized across the state, hopefully across the country at some point." "We feel really good about it today," she added. Governor Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, first signed a law legalizing gay marriage in February, but opponents forced it into a referendum. Voters approved the law on election day November 6, by a 52 to 48 percent margin. "Thank you Washington state for giving all of our deserving families equality and respect," Gregoire tweeted on Thursday. The northeastern state of Maine and the mid-Atlantic state of Maryland also voted in favor of laws allowing same-sex marriage on election day, joining just six other states and the District of Columbia that had previously legalized the practice. Dow Constantine, the top official in Kings County, cheered the law on Thursday when the state began issuing marriage licenses. "We're taking another step forward as a county, as a state, as a society, as a nation," he said.