For hundreds of same-sex Washington couples wanting to tie the knot, December 6th marked a watershed moment.

Marriage licenses were issued to gay and lesbian couples starting at 12:01 a.m. Thursday after the measure to legalize same-sex marriage was signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Same-sex couples wasted no time exercising their new right to marry, lining up as early as Wednesday afternoon to get a license. Those who have their license can wed as soon as Sunday, following a three-day waiting period.

The King County Recorder’s Office in Seattle, Washington doesn’t sound like a particularly romantic place, but looking through these photos of the first licensees, you might think otherwise.

Click through the slideshow to see couples in Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver and Olympia wait for, receive and then celebrate their marriage licenses.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Amy Andrews, right, wears a veil while kissing her partner, Jeri Andrews, while waiting to be among the first to be issued a marriage licenses to a same-sex couple, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, in Seattle. Amy wore the same veil during a symbolic, though not legal, marriage ceremony the couple had in 2011.

  • Couples wait outside of the King County Recorder’s Office in Seattle.

  • Amanda Dollente, left, and her partner, Kelly Middleton, both of Auburn, Wash., display their “No. 1” ticket as first in line to be issued a marriage license to a same-sex couple in Seattle.

  • Patt Pope, center, reads while waiting in line outside of the King County Recorder’s Office as Joy and Jenn McKenna kiss on December 5, 2012 in Seattle.

  • Melody Platt, left, and her partner Beratta Gomillion wait among the first couples in line to be issued a marriage license to a same-sex couple in Seattle. The couple are planning on getting married on their 32nd anniversary, Monday Dec. 12.

  • Deb Dulaney, left, watches as her partner, Diane McGee, fills out paperwork for their marriage license at the Thurston County Auditor’s office at the courthouse, on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Olympia.

  • Jeannine Godfrey, left, and Katharine Tossey, right, hold their marriage license at the Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia.

  • Ashley Cavner, left, and Jessica Lee, both of Vancouver, Wash. are among the first same-sex couples getting marriage licenses.

  • Lyle Martin, left, and Oday Phimmasone apply for a marriage license at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.

  • Jocelyn Guzman, left, and Shawn Sanders, kiss as they are among the first same-sex couples getting marriage licenses Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 in Vancouver, Wash. The couple drove down from Anchorage, Alaska, to be among the first in Clark County to get the license.

  • Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and Pete-e Petersen embrace after receiving the first same-sex marriage license in Washington state at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.

  • James Griener, left, and Paul Harris finish their paper work to get a marriage license at Vancouver’s Public Service Center on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 in Vancouver, Wash. Harris is a manager in the records department and arranged that the pair, who have been together for 39 years, could be first to get the paper work that will allow them to marry anytime after a three-day waiting period.

  • Laurie Johnson and Margaret Witt celebrate attaining their marriage license on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, at the Spokane County Courthouse in Spokane, Wash.

  • Bret Goodwin, right, kisses his partner Andy Goodwin in the lobby of the King County Administration Building shortly after the couple received one of the first same-sex marriage licenses issued in the state early Thursday morning, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle.

  • Claudia Gorbman, left, and partner Pam Keeley wear caps both reading “bride” as they display their newly-issued marriage license, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle.

  • King County Executive Dow Constantine, right , leads a cheer as the clock strikes midnight and he can begin to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples lined-up, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle.

  • Brendon K. Taga, left, and partner Jesse Page display their marriage license issued by King County Executive Dow Constantine, right, just after midnight, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle. Taga and Page were second in line.

  • Brendon K. Taga, left, and Jesse Pageat were the second couple to receive a same-sex marriage license in Washington state, at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle.

  • Just after 3:00 a.m., Corrinalyn and Jennifer Guyette apply for a marriage license at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. ‘It was so great,’ said Corrinalyn. The two have been together for six years.

  • Several of the first couples to receive same-sex marriage licenses in Washington state pose with King County Executive Dow Constantine (top right), who signed their licenses, at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle.

  • The first couples to receive marriage licenses in Washington state pose with King County Executive Dow Constantine, who signed their licenses, during a short ceremony at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.