Mazel Tov! 'Avenue Q' Puppets Tie the Knot Updated July 24, 2011 8:11pm

Ricky (left) and Rod along with their handlers Jed Resnick and Howie Michael Smith after the puppets married near the city clerk's office on July 24, 2011, the first day of legal gay marriage. (DNAinfo/Dan Marrin)

By Dan Marrin and Tom Liddy

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — L'Chaim!

Puppets from the hit Broadway Musical "Avenue Q" tied the knot Sunday in a real life same-sex ceremony with Congregation Beit Simchat Torah.

Rod, a buttoned Wall Street banker, and Ricky, a "Chelsea boy," toasted the first day of legalized gay marriage outside the city clerk's office under a rainbow-colored chuppah.

After a couple, Stephen Hoerz, 35 and Guy Rozenstrich, wed, puppeteers Jed Resnick and Howie Michael Smith jumped popped into place with their props.

Rod, handled by Smith, and Ricky, handled by Resnick, gave each other a kiss, followed by a quick exchange of vows led by Reverend Sharon Kleinbaum.

The crowd erupted into cheers and a rendition of "Siman Tov v'Mazeltov" to congratulate the pair, who meet it the show through an online personal ad.

Rod and Ricky, characters from "Avenue Q," will tie the knot at City Hall on the historic first day of gay marriage in New York State. (Avenue Q/Nick Reuchel)

"To have this finally happen for us — especially so soon after Will and Kate — is unbelievable to me,” Rod said in a statement at the time of the engagement.

“I realize there are a lot of broken hearts out there now that Ricky and I are off the market — step back, all you chorus boys! — but I've known since Day One that Ricky is the husband for me."

Avenue Q is playing at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., in Hell's Kitchen.

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