David Larance, 36, and Kevin Patterson,
31, are believed to be the first gay couple to marry in Arizona.
The men tied the knot in downtown
Phoenix on Friday after a federal judge struck down the state's gay
marriage ban as unconstitutional.
(Related: Federal
judge strikes down Arizona's gay marriage ban.)
While the men were the first to wed,
the first to receive a license were Karen Bailey and Nelda Majors, a
lesbian couple together nearly 57 years.
“It feels wonderful,” Bailey, 75,
told reporters.
(Related: Arizona's
first gay couple to receive a marriage license met in 1957; came out
in 2008.)
Larance and Patterson exchanged vows
outside a county clerk's office minutes after they received their
license, The
Republic reported.
Patterson rushed from the gym to meet
his future husband, forgetting the wedding ring for his spouse.
The Rev. John Dorhauer, who performed
the ceremony, loaned Patterson his ring.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge
Kevin Kane performed his first wedding on Friday. The openly gay
Kane had previously refused to officiate weddings in Arizona in
protest against the state's restrictive marriage ban.
“It's about time,” Kane said.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said Friday
was “a day about love.”