Last week the New Jersey Supreme Court refused Governor Chris Christie's request that same-sex marriages be put on hold until a state appeal against the decision is decided.
Mayors in New Jersey cities including Newark and Jersey City opened their city halls at 12:01am Monday morning, the official start-date of the court order, to marry eager couples.
Making history: David Gibson (right) and Richard
Kiamco of Jersey City become the first official same-sex couple to be
married in Jersey City in a ceremony officiated by Mayor Steve Fulop at
12:01 a.m. Monday, October 21
The hastily planned first weddings to legally unite long-time couples were planned for a state Senator's grand home in Elizabeth, the boardwalk in Asbury Park and government buildings in small towns and big cities.
In the arts community of Lambertville, Mayor David DelVecchio led the ceremony to marry Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey. He also presided when they joined in a civil union the minute they became recognized in the state in February 2007.
Soon after they cut the cake, DelVecchio handed Asaro a pink marriage license.
The couple, both wearing suits, hosted a reception attended by friends, family and several politicians. The song 'In the Mood' played.
Ecstatic: Beth Asaro (left) and Joanne Schailey
(right) celebrate after exchanging vows as Lambertville mayor David
DelVecchio officiates in the first same-sex marriage in Lambertville
history at 12:01am Monday, October 21
Family: Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey share a
moment with their daughter Kate, 13, after they exchanged vows to become
the first same-sex marriage in Lambertville, New Jersey history
Midnight weddings: Newark Mayor and
Senator-elect Cory Booker officiates the ceremony for the marriage of
Lydia Torres (left), 44, and Jenelle Torres (center), 42, at Newark City
hall just after midnight Monday
Asaro, a member of the city council in Lambertville, said they wanted to get married at the first moment, in part, to promote the gay-friendliness of their community north of Trenton.
'This shows to the world that Lambertville is open for business,' DelVecchio said.
The weddings came amid a flurry of legal activity after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government should recognize gay marriages and confer couples with the same benefits that it does for heterosexual married couples, including joint tax filings, the right to live together in government-funded nursing homes and Social Security survivor benefits.
Longtime loves: Newark Mayor Cory Booker (left)
shares a laugh as he officiates the first same-sex marriage for Joesph
Panessidi (center right), 65, and Orville Bell, 65, in Newark City Hall
just after midnight Monday, October 21
A state judge last month agreed with advocates who said that by allowing civil unions but not marriage, New Jersey was keeping gay couples in the state from legal equality.
The administration of Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican and possible 2016 presidential candidate, appealed both the ruling and Monday's implementation date to the state Supreme Court.
And on Friday, less than 60 hours before the weddings were to begin, the state's top court refused to delay them while it sorts out the overall case. The court said the state is not likely to prevail.
Many of the people who have long fought for the right for gay couples to marry had been bracing for a delay, even while they were optimistic the state's top court would ultimately force New Jersey to recognize same-sex marriage.
Despite the many happy unions that have been made in the wee hours of Monday morning, many couples have to wait for 72 hours after obtaining their marriage licenses according to New Jersey law, unless they can find a judge to waive the waiting period.
Others have been held up by authorities unsure whether they had permission to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Celebration: Newark Mayor and Senator-elect Cory
Booker looks on as Alexander Padilla (left)m 37, cuts a wedding cake
after he and Anthony Arenas (right), 36, were married by Booker at
Newark City Hall just after midnight Monday
Sealed with a kiss: Joseph Panessidi and Orville
Bell kiss after being the first same sex couple to be married by U.S.
Senator-elect Corey Booker and current Mayor of Newark
For the first couples to tie the knot legally, it's been a weekend of fast wedding planning and confusion.
Some towns began taking applications for same-sex marriage licenses on Thursday and continued even after the state government told them not to until there was clarity from the courts.
Other towns refused to grant licenses even after the state Health Department said Friday evening that towns should accept the applications.
It's expected that a rush of weddings will continue in coming days as couples are able to get licenses.
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