Peter McGraith and David Cabreza were to marry in London a stroke after midnight Friday, marking the culmination of a campaign to end a distinction many British gay couples say made them feel like second-class citizens.
Saturday will be the first day gay couples will be allowed to tie the knot in England and Wales after the government legalized same-sex marriage last July. While the number of countries legalizing gay marriage has grown significantly since the Netherlands made the first move in 2000, only 17 currently allow the practice.
Gay couples have been allowed since 2005 to enter "civil partnerships," conferring the same legal rights as marriage, but campaigners say the distinction gives the impression that society considers gay relationships inferior.