SEATTLE — Sunday was a historic day for the state as same-sex couples exchanged their vows on the first day of weddings that can take place.
About 150, 10 more than planned, same-sex couples reserved their spots to get married at Seattle City Hall for ceremonies, which started at 10 a.m.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn agreed to turn City Hall into a big wedding chapel, and volunteers spent Saturday getting the place ready for Sunday's celebrations.
Sixteen local judges volunteered to conduct the weddings, and there were five separate chapels to accommodate the couples.
“It’s a symbol across the country, even across the world, about what it means to treat people with equality,” said McGinn.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Horne spoke a bride after her ceremony.
“It is important for me to get married today, 18 years later,” said Karen Swanson.
In November, Washington voters approved Referendum 74 by 54 percent, which legalized same-sex marriage.
On Thursday at 12:01 a.m., the law took effect right after midnight and hundreds of same-sex couples signed their marriage licenses.
Since there is a three-day waiting period, the earliest weddings that can take place is Sunday.
Some same-sex couples couldn’t wait and had their weddings at 12:01 a.m.
Monica Rozgay and Mary Davidson had planned their Saturday nuptials before November’s vote made it legal. They had their formal wedding ceremony earlier in the evening, followed with a reception and returned after midnight to make it legal.
“I feel absolutely blissful, I feel like I’m walking on air,” said Rozgay.
Rozgay and Davidson realized after the election that the waiting period after the law took effect would come just hours after their wedding.
“Wow, so let’s call our officiant and she’ll come back at 12:01, and she’ll legally marry us in Washington and it was fate,” said Davidson.
The brides were one of the first couples to make history.
As of Saturday evening, 623 couples have registered for marriage licenses in King County.