Delaware grooms celebrate first same-sex wedding (video)

A kiss sealed the marriage between two grooms in Wilmington, marking a historic day in Delaware, as the state’s same-sex marriage law takes effect.

As an employee of the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace office, Daniel Cole gets to be part of couples’ most important day, nearly every day.

And after years of waiting, the Wilmington resident finally got his moment to say “I do” to his true love, Joseph Daigle.

“This was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I am so happy to be married to Dan,” Daigle said following the ceremony. “I feel everything at once and I just am so happy to be married.”

The partners met on a bus headed to a gay rights rally in Washington, D.C., while they were in college at the University of Delaware.

They bought a house and got engaged last fall with the hopes of getting married and having a family one day.

“It’s an honor to be first but what is best about being first in my mind, and I think in Joe’s mind, is being able to tell our children one day, being able to share this with them,” added Cole.

Cole and Daigle were the first same-sex couple in the state to get married without previously having a civil union or marriage license from another state.

Attorney General Beau Biden delivered opening remarks at the ceremony held at the The Marian Cruger Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar Mansion in Wilmington.

“Today, we are witnesses to a historic day in Delaware and our community and quite frankly our country,” said Biden. “But more importantly, we are participants in a very personal event, a love story, the marriage of Joe and Dan, a celebration of hope, faith and commitment.”

Cole’s boss, the Hon. Ken Boulden officiated the ceremony.

“May you never forget the importance and the significance of this very special day in your lives, this historic day in the First State,” said Boulden during the ceremony.

According to Bolden, 108 same-sex marriage licenses have already been issued in the state. The first license of the day was presented to Sen. Karen Peterson, D-Stanton, and her partner Victoria.