( CNN ) -- Lavish weddings on soap operas are commonplace -- beautiful , wealthy characters united amid copious tears , heaps of flowers and exquisite attire . Actresses Tamara Braun and Eden Riegel take part in the wedding as depicted on ABC 's `` All My Children . '' Monday 's ceremony on ABC 's `` All My Children '' was much the same , except for the couple : Bianca Montgomery and Reese Williams , both wearing designer dresses , united in daytime television 's first lesbian wedding . `` When my character did first come out of the closet , there was a lot of negative reaction , '' said Eden Riegel , the actress who plays Bianca . Her character is the daughter of Erica Kane , a longtime mainstay on the show played by Susan Lucci . `` People were very protective of Erica Kane 's daughter , and I think that the beauty of the show is that we were able to reach people and get people sort of used to the idea , '' Riegel said . Watch the actress talk about her character and the wedding » . The ceremony , portions of which were posted on a Web site dedicated to ABC daytime television and SOAPnet.com , featured both women wearing designer dresses and holding red roses . `` I promise to love you and devote myself to you , '' says a tearful Reese , played by Tamara Braun , during the ceremony , her hands in Bianca 's . `` Because standing here with you , it 's where I belong . '' Lucci said , `` Once Bianca came out and said she was gay , Erica said , 'But no ! You wo n't get married ! ' Well , now that Bianca is getting married , you know , the other part of Erica is like , 'Hooray ! ' You know ? ' I get to plan my daughter 's wedding after all ! ' `` At least one religious group , however , expressed its disapproval of the nuptials . `` I think it is really important to understand that there are a lot of things that people do n't really want to see and do n't want coming into their homes , and lesbian weddings are certainly one of them , '' said Glenn Stanton of the group Focus on the Family . But gay and lesbian groups hailed the televised wedding as a victory . `` It 's reality , '' said Neil Giuliano , president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) . `` So when we see a lesbian couple getting married on daytime drama , it simply reflects what 's happening in the real world . '' Actress Braun said , `` If you are brave enough to want to get married , especially with the divorce rate as high as it is , then you should have that right no matter what sex you are , who you love , what color you are , how many extra toes and feet you have ... equal rights for all people . '' Recent high-profile same-sex weddings included that of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her partner , actress Portia de Rossi , last August . However , same-sex marriage remains a hot-button issue in many states -- particularly California . The state was one of several to ban same-sex marriage in the November 4 elections . But unlike the others , California had been issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples since a May 15 ruling by the state Supreme Court legalized the unions . However , California 's Proposition 8 , the measure outlawing same-sex marriage , passed with about 52.5 percent of the vote . Three groups -- the American Civil Liberties Union , gay-rights group Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights -- filed a legal challenge to the vote , asking the state Supreme Court to rule the ballot-initiative process was `` improperly used '' to strip away a right protected by the state constitution . The court has said it will hear the appeal , but will not block the implementation or enforcement of the law in the meantime . Arguments in the case could be heard as early as next month . Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut . Rhode Island recognizes same-sex marriages from other states , and Vermont , New Jersey and New Hampshire allow civil unions . CNN 's Lola Ogunnaike contributed to this report .
`` All My Children '' episode features characters who take part in a lesbian wedding . Ceremony features both women wearing designer dresses and holding red roses . Gay and lesbian groups hail the televised wedding as a victory . Comment: