Guy Fieri Officiates Gay Weddings for 101 Couples in Miami (PHOTOS)

Food Network star Guy Fieri hung up his spatula over the weekend to officiate a mass wedding for 101 same-sex couples during the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

The host of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," who was dressed in a tailored purple suit, facilitated the giant free ceremony that took place at The James Royal Palm Hotel and was organized and hosted by chef Art Smith, who married his partner in 2010.

"I believe not only celebrating this momentous occasion, but we also need to keep in mind there are still people, people around our country, who still don't have the rights," Smith told The Miami Herald. "It's important we show the utmost respect and encouragement to these young couples who want to be married. And why not marry them in style?"

The event was to celebrate marriage equality in the state of Florida, Smith's home state. The celebrity chef, who has served both Oprah Winfrey and Gov. Bob Graham, began planning the event after the state legalized same-sex marriage back in January 2015.

Smith said he choose the number "101" after the Disney animated film "101 Dalmatians" and in order to shame Florida Attorney General and anti-gay marriage advocate Pam Bondi as Cruella De Vil - the film's villain

"We have our own Cruella De Vil, Pam Bondi. She was determined that she was going to prevent equality from coming to Florida," Smith told the Associated Press. "For a state known for sunshine, it was living in the darkness when it came to LGBT rights, and it was important to acknowledge that."

E! Online reported that Fieri participated in the ceremony in honor of his late sister, who was a lesbian. Celebrity baker Duff Goldman, star of the Food Network's "Ace of Cakes," provided a seven-tier gold and silver cake. "Chopped" host Ted Allen also attended the event.

Tags

Food Network, LBGT Community