Aline, 46, and Laure, 45, who have been together for 21 years and changed their civil partnership into marriage in the opulent Palais Eynard in Geneva, were among the first to wed.
The couple spoke heartfelt words to each other while remembering their years together and affection for each other in a mirrored salon beneath a beautiful chandelier. There were about a dozen close friends and family members present.
They signed the official forms while holding hands throughout the ceremony, followed by their witnesses.
‘I am now very pleased to announce that you are officially married,’ said the Mayor of Geneva, Marie Barbey-Chappuis, who conducted the first ceremony in person.
The room burst into applause as the couple exchanged a kiss.
The Swiss government’s plans to introduce ‘marriage for all’ were challenged by opponents, who successfully triggered a referendum on the issue that was held last September.
However, 64.1 per cent of voters backed the introduction of same-sex marriage, paving the way for the ceremonies today.
After the first marriage today Barbey-Chappuis said: ‘It was very moving. It’s a big moment and sends a very strong message to society – being free to love and be loved.
‘The symbolism was particularly strong and the emotion too.
‘It was high time that marriage became perfectly equal in Switzerland.
‘It marks a moment in the history of Switzerland and of the institution of marriage.’
Switzerland is the 17th country in Europe to adopt same-sex marriages. The Netherlands was the first to make the change in 2001.
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