( CNN ) -- Boutonnieres , photographers , smiles and tears of joy -- requisite wedding fixtures -- abounded Sunday at Seattle 's City Hall . But for 133 couples , the day 's fanfare brought an extra dimension . After exchanging vows at five stations set up in City Hall , they walked outside and down rain-slickened steps , greeted by cheers , confetti and a brass band celebrating the first day same-sex couples could marry in Washington . `` Today was really about the state of Washington recognizing us , '' said Robin Wyss , who married Danielle Yung , her partner of eight years . `` People beyond our close friends and family saying our family is as valid as any other family . '' After years of saying no at the ballot box , American voters for the first time said yes to same-sex marriage this fall in Washington , Maryland and Maine . The couples married Sunday in Seattle were among the first such couples in Washington to obtain marriage licenses Thursday . `` You are seeing all generations here , people fighting for equality for decades , '' Aaron Pickus , press secretary to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn , told CNN . `` It 's a very happy day . '' Local businesses provided refreshments . Musicians and photographers volunteered their services , Pickus said . A city website featured interviews with couples , photos , live webcams and information on obtaining a marriage license . Keith Bacon , 44 , and Corianton Hale , 34 , of West Seattle were among those tying the knot in simultaneous services . `` After a commitment ceremony ( this past summer ) we just thought we would go down to City Hall , fill out paperwork and call it good , '' said Bacon . `` ( Today ) you would hear bursts of applause . It was very festive and joyous , kind of an electric feeling in the air. `` Bacon and Wyss expressed hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will issue rulings favorable to same-sex marriage . On Friday , the justices said they will hear two constitutional challenges to state and federal laws dealing with the recognition of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed . Oral arguments will likely be held in March with a ruling by late June . One appeal to be heard involves the federal Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA , which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples legally married in their own state . The second is a challenge to California 's Proposition 8 , a voter-approved referendum that took away the right of same sex-marriage that previously had been approved by the state 's courts . Before November 's vote , couples in Washington had domestic partner rights . Bacon and Wyss said they now feel full equality . `` Just being able to say Corianton is my husband , not just my partner , '' Bacon told CNN . Approval of same-sex marriage in Washington contrasts with the 38 states that have passed bans on marriages between people of the same sex , mostly by amending their constitutions to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman . In six states -- Massachusetts , Connecticut , Iowa , Vermont , New Hampshire and New York -- and the District of Columbia , gays and lesbians have previously won marriage rights because of actions taken by judges or legislators , not voters . A milestone also occurred this year in the nation 's executive branch : President Barack Obama became the first president to openly support same-sex marriage . These political trends emerged as a majority of Americans say they support legally recognizing same-sex marriage at a time when the public demonstrates increasing comfort with gays and lesbians , according to a CNN/ORC International survey in June . Bacon said he and Hale have had to deal with acceptance among some family members . `` We 're in a great place , but it took awhile . '' `` I feel like we made history today , and I like the way history is going , '' said Bacon . CNN 's Michael Martinez and Bill Mears contributed to this report .
133 same-sex couples are married Sunday at Seattle City Hall . Washington began issuing same-sex marriage licenses Thursday . Voters in Maryland and Maine also approved same-sex marriages last month .