Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ Wedding Marks 1st Same-Sex Marriage Of Sitting Governor

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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, left, waves to the crowd accompanied by his partner, Marlon Reis, in 2019. The two were married Wednesday, marking the first same-sex marriage of a sitting governor.

David Zalubowski/AP

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David Zalubowski/AP

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The couple was married Wednesday in a traditional Jewish ceremony at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Polis and Reis decided to hold their wedding on a significant day to them personally: the 18th anniversary of their first date. They picked CU-Boulder because that’s where Reis graduated from college.

«We met online and went out on a date and we went to the Boulder bookstore and then went to dinner,» Polis said.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, the couple’s 7-year-old daughter served as the flower girl; their 9-year-old son was the ring bearer.

Polis said their daughter was probably more thrilled than anyone about the wedding.

«She was all in on being a flower girl. She’s been prancing around. She got a great dress. She’s terrific.»

Their son was also happy, but more ambivalent about it all.

«Kids are so modern that their responses to things are sometimes funny. Our son honestly asked us, ‘Why do people get married?’ » Reis said.

He said he explained the legal rights afforded to married couples and that it’s an «expression of the caring that you feel for one another.»

Practically speaking Reis has been considered the state’s first gentleman since Polis took office, but Polis said the wedding meant the world to them.

«People could say we took 18 years to get around to it, or you could say we took six years to get around to it,» said Polis, counting back from the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

«But it was great to celebrate our love for one another with our family.»