It's a lovely day for a (gay) wedding

My friends Sylvain and Fred got married this past June in Paris. Actually, they had a civil pact (PACS), or civil union - a form of gay marriage recently approved nationwide in France. The guys just sent out their photos to a bunch of us, and I asked if I could post a few - the photos are just so cute, and I think show how a marriage is a marriage is a marriage. (As always, click any of the photos to see a larger version.)

Both groom and groom sign the PACS document, which is also signed by witnesses. Below is the actual document.



Their local mayor oversaw the ceremony. (In Paris, each neighborhood of the city has its own mayor, then there's a mayor for the city at large.) And, as it should be, both of their moms were in attendance (great pic of them with the moms right after the ceremony, below), as were a ton of family and friends (and check out that city hall building).





Also in attendance were two members of parliament, one of whom was Patrick Bloche, who authored the civil pact law itself, and who wrote a really lovely note in the guys' wedding book:

"Yet again, today, thanks to Fred and Sylvain, I am so proud to have written (and gotten a vote for, not without some difficulty) the Pacs! Much happiness to you both.

Affectionately, Patrick Bloche"

The happy couple shared the obligatory kiss after the ceremony:



And it's just not a wedding if the groom doesn't get stone drunk afterwards.