Providence Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
- Mayor Angel Taveras, right, hands the marriage certificate to Zachary Marcus, center, and Gary McDowell.
PROVIDENCE, R. I. -- From this day forward, the beginning of same sex marriages in Rhode Island, city residents Gary Steven McDowell and Zachary Alessandro Marcus became spouses for life.
The two vowed to be faithful and honest, to love and respect each other in their successes and failures, to laugh and share in each other's tears, to care for each other in sickness and health and to live life together as equals.
Marcus, 25, and McDowell, 28, exchanged personal vows as well, and Irish Claddagh rings.
Mayor Angel Taveras, who called himself a full-service mayor, officiated the ceremony in his City Hall office. Dressed in black suits, blue ties and a single calla lily on their jacket lapel, the two faced each other in front of a mantel.
In attendance were Marcus' parents and brother from Chicago, McDowell's brother, limited media and several members of Taveras staff.
"Today's a real special day for the state and we're glad to do this for your son," Taveras told Seth and Renee Marcus, Zachary's parents.
The two plan to have a bigger ceremony in April 2014 in Cambridge, England, where they met two years ago.