Buffalo — Two lesbian couples at opposite ends of the New York State are competing to be the first legal marriage of a same-sex couple to be licensed and solemnized in New York State. They are joined by ten couples from Albany who will be wed in the Albany City Hall.
The Marriage Equality Act was signed into law by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 24, 2011 after both the New York State Assembly and the State Senate approve the legislation that will permit New York State to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples
Buffalo residents Kitty Lambert and Cheryl Rudd have timed their wedding so that they can claim to be among the first same-sex marriages to be issued and solemnized in the state of New York.
The couple has planned a 7:00 p.m. reception and an 11:00 ceremony to be held during the evening of Saturday, July 23. The marriage license will be issued, signed and witnessed at 12:01 a.m. Sunday July 24.
The event will be held on Luna Island in the Niagara Falls Reservation State Park.
The couple has invited the family, friends, local and statewide elected officials, national VIPs and thousands of well-wishers to attend their special night using facebook and press releases to spread the word.
Meanwhile down on Long Island, The Viana Hotel and Spa in Westbury, New York will be the site of the wedding of Dee Smith and Kate Wrede on July 24.
Smith, 25, and Wrede, 21were engaged on May 5. They will wed in a 12:01 a.m. ceremony July 24, with a reception that begins at 11 p.m. on July 23.
A spokeswoman for the caterer said the timing of the ceremony itself is being planned specifically so that it happens as the first in New York.
In an interview Friday, Smith said the wedding will take place at the Viana Hotel and Spa in Westbury, New York and will have "all the things you'd have at a typical wedding for a Jewish couple."
The cake will be from TLC's Cake Boss- Carlo's Bake Shop.
Chef Guy Reuge and Stoneybrook, New York caterer Mirabelle, is among several wedding vendors donating services or products for the happy couple.
The State Capitol of Albany, New York while in between Niagara Falls and Long Island seems determined not to be outdone.
The first 10 same-sex couples to return marriage licenses to Albany City Hall on Friday will be eligible to join the Buffalo and Long Island couples to be among the first married in New York when its landmark gay marriage law goes into effect Sunday.
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings said Tuesday he will begin performing marriages at 12:01 a.m. Sunday in the Common Council's chambers, with state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi on hand to waive the statutory 24-hour waiting period between the time a marriage license is issued and when a couple can be legally married.
"It's historic," Jennings said. "I'm going to be proud to be a part of it."
Same-sex couples can begin picking up marriage license applications at Albany City Hall on Thursday at 9 a.m. and can turn them in, with the $40 cash fee, starting at 9 a.m. Friday.
In New York City marriage applicants have seemed to overwhelmed their online pre-application system. Since marriage Equality Act was signed into law 2661 couples have applied to have marriage licenses issued to them.
There will be a city-wide lottery system used to select couples for marriage licenses on Sunday the 24th. There will be 400 slots available for the Manhattan City Clerk's Office; 112 slots available each for the Brooklyn and Queens City Clerk's Offices; 98 slots available for The Bronx City Clerk's Office; and 42 slots available for the Staten Island City Clerk's Office.
New York City officials have stated that 764 couples were expected to be married Sunday, more than the city's previous single-day high of 621 on Valentine's Day in 2003 and 610 marriages on August 8, 2008.
The Broadway theater where Hair is being performed this summer will be the stage where some same-sex couples will be married on July 25, the day after The Marriage Equality Act becomes law in the state.
Rory O'Malley, a star of The Book of Mormon and a co-founder of the gay-rights group Broadway Impact, said several gay couples from the Broadway community will be married on stage right after that evening's performance of Hair.
"It's not just a summer of love," he said at a press conference, "It's a summer of equality."
The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation (NTCC) plans to hold a group wedding ceremony on July 25 in Niagara Falls, New York. Monday July 25 is the first day that same-sex couples can be married if they have obtained a marriage lisence on July 24 and have not had the 24 hour waiting period waived.
The event, which is aimed at highlighting the passage of the marriage equality act, is expected to be one of the first official same-sex group wedding ceremonies in New York State. This wedding ceremony, being held at Niagara Falls State Park, is hoped to help Niagara Falls, New York as a premier marriage and honeymoon destination, as well as translate to a tremendous economic impact for the regions tourism industry.
"According to Empire State Development, New York State would garner upwards of $400 million in economic benefits over a three-year period due to the passage of the marriage equality act," said NTCC President and CEO John Percy. "Niagara Falls has long been considered a wedding and honeymoon destination. Now, with the influx of a new demographic of romance tourists, Niagara USA will once again be viewed as the Honeymoon Capital, for all."
The City of Niagara Falls clerk's office has agreed to open its doors on Sunday July 24, which will allow couples to obtain their marriage license 24-hours in advance of the planned ceremony. The office hours will be set in the coming days.
The NTCC has coordinated with different partners to plan an event which will hosted on Goat island in Niagara Falls State Park free of charge to LGBT couples, on July 25 at 10 a.m.
Following the event there will be a cake and champagne toast at Niagara Falls State Park.
The NTCC is working with members of the Illumination Board to have the Falls be illuminated Rainbow colors the evening of July 24 and July 25.
Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said "This event, which will highlight Niagara Falls on an international level as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination, will serve as a tremendous economic shot in the arm for not only the area's hotels and attractions, but for the florists, bakeries and restaurants throughout the city." Dyster said. "Those who come here will see the efforts made by this administration in reinventing our downtown tourist district and be welcomed into a city that will once again reclaim its title as the honeymoon capital of the world."
Thirty same-sex couples have reportedly agreed to participate in the group wedding event.
—staff
