California to alter marriage license

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A Roseville, Calif., couple has succeeded in convincing state officials to return the words "bride" and "groom" to marriage license forms.

Rachel Bird and Gideon Codding sued the state when they discovered their marriage form said "Party A" and "Party B," The Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday.

Bird and Codding were among many couples in California who objected to the language on the forms, which deleted the words bride and groom in May when the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage and state officials thought the marriage forms should use gender-neutral language, the Bee reported.

As of next month, couples will have the option of declaring themselves bride and groom, bride and bride or groom and groom, the Bee reported, noting they can also leave the space blank.

"It's a lesson for us all, that we can change things if we stick to our beliefs," Codding said.