Heidi Engstad, 25, and Brook Mattila, 22, of Duluth, were the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license in St. Louis County this morning.
The two, who have been together for more than two years, will attend the wedding party at Tycoons in downtown Duluth, where businessman John Goldfine will officiate a group ceremony at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. They will also have a private ceremony and reception in January.
The Minnesota Legislature passed a same-sex marriage bill in May, and the state will begin issuing certificates Aug. 1. Since there is a five-day waiting period, applications are being accepted beginning today for marriages that will become valid Aug. 1.
After signing the certificate and taking an oath, Mattila had tears in her eyes.
"It'll be a long five days," she said. "It's just fun to be a part of history."
