A gay marriage made in Maryland

Darcia Anthony, left, and Danielle Williams chat before their wedding at City Hall in Baltimore (AP)

Darcia Anthony and Danielle Williams were married at City Hall in Baltimore today as Maryland became the first southern state to legalise same-sex marriage.

Seven couples rang in the new year by tying the knot at City Hall just after midnight.

Baltimore's mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiated at the wedding of the first of the couples, James Scales, 68, and William Tasker, 60. "It's just so hard to believe it's happening," Mr Scales said as he wed his partner of 35 years.