Today, we have a story in four parts, each of them a wedding ceremony. Part one features Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler, one of dozens of couples who tied the knot today in New Zealand, as it became the 13th country to allow same-sex marriage. Part two focuses on Eugene and Kirstin Han, survivors of the Aurora shooting who decided to get married exactly one year after the deadly rampage, making the anniversary date one of happy memories, not only painful ones. Part three shows Cynthia Wides and Elizabeth Carey, who were married at San Francisco's City Hall on June 29 after a federal appeals court allowed California to lift a four-year freeze on same-sex marriage licenses. And the fourth part features Brian Whiteside, a humanist officiant, performing a ceremony in Ireland, where a recent ruling made atheist weddings legal.
Clockwise, from top left: Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler kiss after being married at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, on August 19, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. Aurora shooting survivors, now newlyweds, Eugene and Kirstin Han smile at each other after exchanging vows during their wedding ceremony at Village East Baptist Church, in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2013. Cynthia Wides and Elizabeth Carey show their wedding rings after marrying at City Hall in San Francisco, California, on June 29, 2013. Suzy Addis makes her way from her bridal suite to her humanist wedding ceremony -- one of many newly-allowed atheist wedding ceremonies -- at the Millhouse in the village of Slane, County Meath, Ireland, on July 17, 2013.#
Two Lego men decorate the top of Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler's wedding cake prior to the reception at Martin Bosley's in Wellington, on August 19, 2013.#
Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler kiss while rubbing a giant greenstone (pounamu) after being married at the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, on August 19, 2013.#
Aurora shooting survivors, now newlyweds, Eugene and Kirstin Han smile at each other after exchanging vows during their wedding ceremony at Village East Baptist Church, in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2013.#
Aurora shooting survivors, now newlyweds, Kirstin and Eugene Han perform the ceremonial first dance during their wedding reception, in Denver, on July 20, 2013 -- one year to the day since Eugene was shot while trying to protect Kirstin from harm during a shooting rampage in an Aurora theater.#
Director of Ceremonies Brian Whiteside conducts a humanist wedding ceremony for groom Brendan Hastings and bride Suzy Addis at the Millhouse in the village of Slane, on July 17, 2013.#
The groom, Brendan Hastings and bride, Suzy Addis are covered in confetti after their Humanist Wedding at the Millhouse in the village of Slane, on July 17, 2013.#
Confetti lies on the head of bride Suzy Addis after her humanist wedding ceremony at the Millhouse in the village of Slane, County Meath, Ireland, on July 17, 2013. Traditionally Catholic Ireland has allowed atheist wedding ceremonies this year for the first time, but the few people certified to celebrate them are overwhelmed by the hundreds of couples seeking their services.#
A diving championship in England, Darth Vader on trial in Chile, Manhattanhenge in New York City, a graduation ceremony at West Point, ongoing floods in northern Italy, and much more
The Chelsea Flower Show in England, a scarecrow fair in Italy, a mountain-bike race in Bolivia, a volcanic eruption in Indonesia, the Cannes Film Festival in France, and much more
