Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin married each other for the third time early Monday . But this time , it was especially memorable : They were among the first to tie the knot after same-sex marriage became legal in New Jersey . A rabbi first `` married '' the couple in 1992 in a Jewish ceremony . They married a second time in New York in August 2012 after same-sex marriage became legal there . The third time was just after midnight Thursday in the Garden State . The couple helped pave the way there through a 2011 lawsuit that brought about the change . New Jersey now becomes the 14th state to recognize gay marriages . Shapiro and Walpin were married in the home of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak , who championed same-sex marriage in the legislature . Throughout the state other gay couples exchanged vows in early morning ceremonies . At the Newark City Hall , Mayor Cory Booker married seven couples , two of them heterosexual . He had refused to conduct any marriage ceremonies until same-sex marriages were legal in the state . `` It is officially past midnight , '' Booker said . `` Marriage is equal in New Jersey . '' Chris Christie drops challenge to same-sex marriages . High court clears the way . On Friday , the New Jersey Supreme Court denied the state 's request to temporarily prevent such marriages . Troy Stevenson , executive director of the gay rights group Garden State Equality , said last week that the high court 's decision means `` the door is open for love , commitment and equality under the law . '' `` This is a huge victory for New Jersey 's same-sex couples and their families , '' added Hayley Gorenberg , deputy legal director of gay rights group Lambda Legal and the organization 's lead attorney on the case . `` Take out the champagne glasses -- wedding bells will soon be ringing in New Jersey ! '' That enthusiasm was not shared by everyone . `` It is extremely disappointing that the New Jersey Supreme Court has allowed the ruling of an activist judge to stand pending its appeal through the court system , '' said Brian Brown , president of the National Organization for Marriage , last week . `` All in all , today 's ruling is another sad chapter in watching our courts usurp the rights of voters to determine issues like this for themselves . '' Gov . Chris Christie 's administration appealed , and asked the court to delay , a lower court 's September 27 order that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry beginning October 21 , rather than give them the label `` civil union . '' The appeal will be heard in January . But the state Supreme Court on Friday declined to delay the September order in the meantime , writing that `` the state has not shown a reasonable probability that it will succeed on the merits '' of the appeal . `` When a party presents a clear case of ongoing unequal treatment , and asks the court to vindicate constitutionally protected rights , a court may not sidestep its obligation to rule for an indefinite amount of time , '' the 20-page decision read . `` Under those circumstances , courts do not have the option to defer . '' Where sex-same marriage is legal . New Jersey has recognized civil unions between same-sex couples since 2007 , after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the state must allow same-sex couples all the rights and benefits of marriage . As far as state rights and benefits went , civil unions and marriages differed only in label . Three states offer civil unions , but not marriage , to same-sex couples . They are Colorado , Hawaii and Illinois . Same-sex marriage is now legal in 14 U.S states -- California , Connecticut , Delaware , Iowa , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , Rhode Island , Vermont and Washington -- as well as the District of Columbia . Same-sex marriage is banned in every state not mentioned above , except for New Mexico , which has no laws banning or allowing it .
Newark mayor conducts marriages of several same-sex couples . The city has been a focal point for the debate over gay marriage in New Jersey and across the country. New Jersey has allowed same-sex civil unions since 2007 .