Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales at midnight Friday going into Saturday. The historic change was marked by gay and lesbian couples tying the knot all over Great Britain, the BBC reported.
"Congratulations to the gay couples who have already been married- and my best wishes to those about to be on this historic day," British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted.
Peter McGraith and David Cabreza were one of the first couples to wed, having their ceremony at the Islington Town Hall in London.
The couple noted how international advancements in gay rights is difficult to achieve. But at the same time they said their union is what's most important.
"From a global and political perspective it's great too, but for us it's also about us and our marriage," Cabreza said, the BBC reported.
Cameron said the law change will give strength to those who are uncertain about their sexuality.
"This weekend is an important moment for our country," Cameron wrote in an article for Pink News, according to the BBC. "It says we are a county that will continue to honor its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth."
Scotland, also a part of the U.K., passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage in February, which will go into effect in October. Northern Ireland, however, did not pass any similar measures.
Though the law changes are a victory for equal rights, the "battle for true equality" is not over, Labour party leader Ed Miliband said according to the BBC.
Some religious organizations were not on board with the changes.
"We can't just redefine an institution- redefine something that always has been- because we say it's something that we want," said Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, the BBC reported.
The Roman Catholic Church also opposes the marriage legalization.
The law bans the Church of England from performing same-sex marriages. But several top church members said they are willing to live with the changes.
"The law's changed; we accept the situation," Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told the BBC.
