Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams' wedding: 'It has been a family affair'

  • Jo Deutsch, 53, left, and Teresa Williams, 56, married on May 18, one week shy of 30 years together. They wed in Maryland, where same-sex marriage has been legal since Jan. 1. The state’s General Assembly passed a law permitting it in February 2012, and a slim majority of Maryland voters—52 percent—approved the referendum on Nov. 6, 2012. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay wedding profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Jo Deutsch, 53, left, and Teresa Williams, 56, married on May 18, one week shy of 30 years together. They wed in Maryland, where same-sex marriage has been legal since Jan. 1. The state’s General Assembly passed a law permitting it in February 2012, and a slim majority of Maryland voters—52 percent—approved the referendum on Nov. 6, 2012. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Their wedding “really represented our chance to show our long-term commitment and life together and include our children, while still including some of the traditional aspects of weddings,” Deutsch said. Their three children—from left, Jake, 22, Bena, 12, and Matthew, 18—played significant roles in the wedding ceremony and in Deutsch and Williams’ efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Their wedding “really represented our chance to show our long-term commitment and life together and include our children, while still including some of the traditional aspects of weddings,” Deutsch said. Their three children—from left, Jake, 22, Bena, 12, and Matthew, 18—played significant roles in the wedding ceremony and in Deutsch and Williams’ efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch described their wedding as “celebratory with some traditional aspects.” Deutsch was raised Jewish, so they were married under a chuppah. But rather than the traditional four-side chuppah, it featured three sides, so the top was a triangle—an important symbol in the gay and lesbian community. Each of their children stood at a pole on the three vertices. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch described their wedding as “celebratory with some traditional aspects.” Deutsch was raised Jewish, so they were married under a chuppah. But rather than the traditional four-side chuppah, it featured three sides, so the top was a triangle—an important symbol in the gay and lesbian community. Each of their children stood at a pole on the three vertices. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch’s and Williams’ siblings walked first, followed by Jake, Matthew and Bena, before the brides escorted each other down the aisle. Eighty guests attended the outdoor ceremony at a historic home overlooking the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro, Md. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch’s and Williams’ siblings walked first, followed by Jake, Matthew and Bena, before the brides escorted each other down the aisle. Eighty guests attended the outdoor ceremony at a historic home overlooking the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro, Md. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Chairs reserved for Deutsch and Williams are marked as “Reserved for the brides.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Chairs reserved for Deutsch and Williams are marked as “Reserved for the brides.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • “We started thinking about getting married with Massachusetts [legalizing same-sex] marriage now 10 years ago. We thought about it again and again as each state did,” Deutsch said. But they wanted to wed in their adopted state of Maryland. They've lived in Prince George's County for 16 years. “When the great people of the state of Maryland passed [it] last year, that's when we finally started planning it.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    “We started thinking about getting married with Massachusetts [legalizing same-sex] marriage now 10 years ago. We thought about it again and again as each state did,” Deutsch said. But they wanted to wed in their adopted state of Maryland. They've lived in Prince George's County for 16 years. “When the great people of the state of Maryland passed [it] last year, that's when we finally started planning it.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • The couple lives in Cheverly, Md., and for the last two years, Deutsch has worked full-time in Washington, D.C., as the federal director for Freedom to Marry, a decade-old New York-based organization with about 20 employees. So, for her, working on the wedding was like being on the job. “When I was planning our wedding, I felt like I was [working] for Freedom for Marry 24/7,” she said. “This has been a pretty consuming part of my life for two years.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    The couple lives in Cheverly, Md., and for the last two years, Deutsch has worked full-time in Washington, D.C., as the federal director for Freedom to Marry, a decade-old New York-based organization with about 20 employees. So, for her, working on the wedding was like being on the job. “When I was planning our wedding, I felt like I was [working] for Freedom for Marry 24/7,” she said. “This has been a pretty consuming part of my life for two years.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Dan Furmansky officiated the ceremony. Deutsch and Williams first met him when he was executive director for Equality Maryland more than 10 years ago. As a family, they worked with him on LGBT issues in Maryland, including lobbying in Annapolis and speaking at rallies. When voters legalized same-sex marriage in November, they said they immediately thought he’d make a perfect officiant. “It meant a great deal to have him marry us and share in our ceremony,” Deutsch said. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay wedding profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Dan Furmansky officiated the ceremony. Deutsch and Williams first met him when he was executive director for Equality Maryland more than 10 years ago. As a family, they worked with him on LGBT issues in Maryland, including lobbying in Annapolis and speaking at rallies. When voters legalized same-sex marriage in November, they said they immediately thought he’d make a perfect officiant. “It meant a great deal to have him marry us and share in our ceremony,” Deutsch said. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Family attended. So did coworkers. Deutsch's best friend from first grade was there. She said, “We knew we could not be where we were without the love and support of the people who were there.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Family attended. So did coworkers. Deutsch's best friend from first grade was there. She said, “We knew we could not be where we were without the love and support of the people who were there.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch said she and Williams have been out and active lobbyists on LGBT issues, including same-sex marriage, for three decades. That involvement has included their children, who have all testified before state assembly and senate committees in support of them and all same-sex couples nationwide. Their kids have also spoken at rallies. “It has been a family affair,” Deutsch said. “The kids understand the power and importance of getting married and showing a legal commitment.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    10/14

    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch said she and Williams have been out and active lobbyists on LGBT issues, including same-sex marriage, for three decades. That involvement has included their children, who have all testified before state assembly and senate committees in support of them and all same-sex couples nationwide. Their kids have also spoken at rallies. “It has been a family affair,” Deutsch said. “The kids understand the power and importance of getting married and showing a legal commitment.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch remembers reading about a lesbian couple married in New York shortly after that state legalized same-sex marriage in 2011. She said the couple said their state marriage certificate was all they needed. “I thought, not really,” Deutsch said. “You're not going to have every federal protection you should get. As amazing and joyful it is to call Teresa my wife, I also know that with DOMA still on the books, we are denied total federal recognition. We are very anxious for a Supreme Court decision that makes it right and corrects it so that my marriage in the state of Maryland is recognized by the federal government.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
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    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch remembers reading about a lesbian couple married in New York shortly after that state legalized same-sex marriage in 2011. She said the couple said their state marriage certificate was all they needed. “I thought, not really,” Deutsch said. “You're not going to have every federal protection you should get. As amazing and joyful it is to call Teresa my wife, I also know that with DOMA still on the books, we are denied total federal recognition. We are very anxious for a Supreme Court decision that makes it right and corrects it so that my marriage in the state of Maryland is recognized by the federal government.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch says she’s hopeful the court will repeal Section 3 of DOMA and overturn Proposition 8, the California law that outlaws same-sex marriage. “That will be cause for another celebration,” she said. “I would say the worst thing that could happen is that it's going to take longer for loving couples to have equal justice under the law.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    12/14

    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch says she’s hopeful the court will repeal Section 3 of DOMA and overturn Proposition 8, the California law that outlaws same-sex marriage. “That will be cause for another celebration,” she said. “I would say the worst thing that could happen is that it's going to take longer for loving couples to have equal justice under the law.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • “I believe this will happen in my lifetime. Ten, 15 years ago, I didn't think Teresa and I would be able to get married,” Deutsch said. “The worst-case scenario is that [the rulings are] just not in June, and we'll have to wait longer.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    13/14

    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    “I believe this will happen in my lifetime. Ten, 15 years ago, I didn't think Teresa and I would be able to get married,” Deutsch said. “The worst-case scenario is that [the rulings are] just not in June, and we'll have to wait longer.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
  • Deutsch said her favorite part was “having a celebration of our life together. I especially enjoyed signing the marriage certificate—that we both finally have a marriage certificate with both of our names on it.” Deutsch laughed when asked how much she thinks about the looming court decisions: “Even when I'm sleeping, I have to confess.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    14/14

    Gay marriage profile: Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams

    Deutsch said her favorite part was “having a celebration of our life together. I especially enjoyed signing the marriage certificate—that we both finally have a marriage certificate with both of our names on it.” Deutsch laughed when asked how much she thinks about the looming court decisions: “Even when I'm sleeping, I have to confess.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
    rolfephotography.com
Jo Deutsch, 53, left, and Teresa Williams, 56, married on May 18, one week shy of 30 years together. They wed in Maryland, where same-sex marriage has been legal since Jan. 1. The state’s General Assembly passed a law permitting it in February 2012, and a slim majority of Maryland voters—52 percent—approved the referendum on Nov. 6, 2012. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Their wedding “really represented our chance to show our long-term commitment and life together and include our children, while still including some of the traditional aspects of weddings,” Deutsch said. Their three children—from left, Jake, 22, Bena, 12, and Matthew, 18—played significant roles in the wedding ceremony and in Deutsch and Williams’ efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch described their wedding as “celebratory with some traditional aspects.” Deutsch was raised Jewish, so they were married under a chuppah. But rather than the traditional four-side chuppah, it featured three sides, so the top was a triangle—an important symbol in the gay and lesbian community. Each of their children stood at a pole on the three vertices. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch’s and Williams’ siblings walked first, followed by Jake, Matthew and Bena, before the brides escorted each other down the aisle. Eighty guests attended the outdoor ceremony at a historic home overlooking the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro, Md. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Chairs reserved for Deutsch and Williams are marked as “Reserved for the brides.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
“We started thinking about getting married with Massachusetts [legalizing same-sex] marriage now 10 years ago. We thought about it again and again as each state did,” Deutsch said. But they wanted to wed in their adopted state of Maryland. They've lived in Prince George's County for 16 years. “When the great people of the state of Maryland passed [it] last year, that's when we finally started planning it.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
The couple lives in Cheverly, Md., and for the last two years, Deutsch has worked full-time in Washington, D.C., as the federal director for Freedom to Marry, a decade-old New York-based organization with about 20 employees. So, for her, working on the wedding was like being on the job. “When I was planning our wedding, I felt like I was [working] for Freedom for Marry 24/7,” she said. “This has been a pretty consuming part of my life for two years.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Dan Furmansky officiated the ceremony. Deutsch and Williams first met him when he was executive director for Equality Maryland more than 10 years ago. As a family, they worked with him on LGBT issues in Maryland, including lobbying in Annapolis and speaking at rallies. When voters legalized same-sex marriage in November, they said they immediately thought he’d make a perfect officiant. “It meant a great deal to have him marry us and share in our ceremony,” Deutsch said. (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Family attended. So did coworkers. Deutsch's best friend from first grade was there. She said, “We knew we could not be where we were without the love and support of the people who were there.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch said she and Williams have been out and active lobbyists on LGBT issues, including same-sex marriage, for three decades. That involvement has included their children, who have all testified before state assembly and senate committees in support of them and all same-sex couples nationwide. Their kids have also spoken at rallies. “It has been a family affair,” Deutsch said. “The kids understand the power and importance of getting married and showing a legal commitment.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch remembers reading about a lesbian couple married in New York shortly after that state legalized same-sex marriage in 2011. She said the couple said their state marriage certificate was all they needed. “I thought, not really,” Deutsch said. “You're not going to have every federal protection you should get. As amazing and joyful it is to call Teresa my wife, I also know that with DOMA still on the books, we are denied total federal recognition. We are very anxious for a Supreme Court decision that makes it right and corrects it so that my marriage in the state of Maryland is recognized by the federal government.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch says she’s hopeful the court will repeal Section 3 of DOMA and overturn Proposition 8, the California law that outlaws same-sex marriage. “That will be cause for another celebration,” she said. “I would say the worst thing that could happen is that it's going to take longer for loving couples to have equal justice under the law.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
“I believe this will happen in my lifetime. Ten, 15 years ago, I didn't think Teresa and I would be able to get married,” Deutsch said. “The worst-case scenario is that [the rulings are] just not in June, and we'll have to wait longer.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)
Deutsch said her favorite part was “having a celebration of our life together. I especially enjoyed signing the marriage certificate—that we both finally have a marriage certificate with both of our names on it.” Deutsch laughed when asked how much she thinks about the looming court decisions: “Even when I'm sleeping, I have to confess.” (Photo © Judy G. Rolfe/rolfephotography.com)

Before the end of June, the Supreme Court will likely issue rulings on two landmark same-sex marriage cases. In one, United States v. Windsor, the court could determine whether the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the constitutional rights of same-sex couples. The other, Hollingsworth v. Perry, tackles Proposition 8, California’s ban on gay marriage that voters narrowly passed in 2008. Ahead of the decisions, Yahoo News asked same-sex couples who married since the arguments ended to share stories and photos from their weddings and how they feel as the rulings loom. Featured in this slideshow are Jo Deutsch and Teresa Williams, who married in May in Maryland. (All photos are copyrighted by Judy G. Rolfe from rolfephotography.com) —Tim Skillern