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Same-Sex Couples Get Hitched Atop Empire State Building For First Time Ever
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 14, 2012
Modified Feb 14, 2012
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 14, 2012
Modified Feb 14, 2012
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Alaskan lovebirds Stephanie Figarelle and Lela McArthur became the first same-sex couple to tie the knot at the Empire State Building this morning, with an early-morning Valentine's Day ceremony at the crack of 8 a.m. It was the first of four weddings to take place at the landmark building today, and all designed by "celebrity event designer" Colin Cowie. Here's awwwwesome video from the Figarelle-McArthur union:
After the ladies got hitched, at 11 a.m. Shawn Klein and Phil Fung became the first same-sex couple from New York State to wed atop the Empire State Building. Fung, 49, a technological project manager for a financial firm, and Klein, 51, an administrator at New York Presbyterian, were betrothed in a small ceremony on the landmark's 61st floor, nearly eight months after Albany's vote to make New York the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage. They met over eighteen years ago at the erstwhile Roxy nightclub, and have been in a registered domestic partnership for over two years.
While pop culture and Nora Ephron have cemented the Empire State Building as a prime meeting spot for lovers, weddings at the building are only allowed once a year on Valentine's Day. Couples who wish to wed there are required to submit their photos and love stories to a competition, where friends and family can vote for them. Today the four winning couples, who included two hetero couples (boooring!) got an all-expenses paid ceremony, reception and champagne toast.
At the ceremony, Fung and Klein, who walked down the aisle to Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," wore matching suits courtesy of Men's Wearhouse and exchanged complimentary De Beers wedding rings. Around forty guests were in attendance, including ten members of Klein's family, who traveled to New York from his home state of North Dakota. And the ceremony was presided over by local "Wedding Celebrant" Kim Kirkley, who spoke at length about the couple's historic union.
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empire state building
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