Sunday, July 24, was the first day same-sex couples could legally marry in the state of New York: 823 couples in New York City asked to get their wedding licenses on that day, so Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office held a lottery to smooth the process along. (Couples with licenses could either get married on the spot or use them for a future ceremony.) Starting Sunday morning, the Manhattan wedding registry office began holding special hours to accommodate the nearly 500 expected couples. The line outside the courthouse was filled with beaming brides and grooms along with supportive friends and family members. There were nearly as many members of the press as there were couples, along with savvy entrepreneurs offering everything from photography services to officiants for the big day.
None of the couples we spoke to, some of whom had been together for 42 years, and some for only six months, seemed too bothered by the heat wave or having to wait in line.
The following 13 couples were waiting in line for their marriage licenses. The couple pictured here had been married in California previously and came to New York to celebrate. All styles of clothing were on display—everything from casual streetwear to meticulously hand-crafted, regal couture. Some people chose to give only their first names for privacy reasons; the interviews have been edited and condensed.
Correction, July 24, 2011: This caption originally identified all the featured couples as waiting for marriage licenses. The couple pictured here had been married previously in California and came to New York to celebrate.