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Read the press release here.

City Clerk's Office to Open Early for Gay Marriage

By DNAinfo Staff on July 6, 2011 7:07pm

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Anticipating a rush of same-sex couples looking to get married at the first available opportunity, the city clerk's office is planning to open up on the weekend and extend its hours through the week.

The office at 141 Worth St. will open Sun. July 24 — the first day that gay couples can legally marry — from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will stay open an extra two hours, until 6:30 p.m., from Mon. July 25 through Fri. July 29, the city announced Wednesday.

Applicants must be in the office by 3:45 p.m. Sunday and 5:45 p.m. through the rest of the week to be guaranteed service, officials said.

New York State judges have also volunteered to perform ceremonies for couples on the 24th and grant waiver requests for those hoping to bypass the state's 24-hour marriage waiting period.

"So many of us have waited a lifetime for the day we could see full equality for all New York families, now that day is finally in sight," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the city’s first openly lesbian speaker, said in a statement.

"The City of New York will be the place to be on July 24th and we are proud to welcome all couples and their families to have a meaningful ceremony in the Clerk’s office, right here in the greatest city on earth," she said.

Online applications for marriage licenses soared Tuesday as same-sex couples were allowed to apply in NYC for the very first time.

But some were caught off-guard by out-of-date online forms that forced same-sex applicants to identify as either "groom" or "bride" through most of the day.

City Clerk Michael McSweeney vowed his staff would be ready for the expected rush.

"We are going to be part of history," he said.