SEE  PICS:  FIRST GAY COUPLE TO WED IN FRANCE 

Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau made history on Wednesday when they said "I do" to became the first gay couple in France to be legally pronounced “husband and husband”.

Mr Autin, a 40-year-old gay rights activist, met his 30-year-old partner in 2006.

Some 600 guests were invited and 150 media crews were accredited for the ceremony, the BBC's Christian Fraser, in Paris, reports.

Several businesses and well-wishers sent wedding presents to the couple.

Extra police were drafted in amid fears the extreme-right might also attend, our correspondent added.

On Sunday, at least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to denounce the same-sex marriage bill, which was signed into law on 18 May.

France is now the 14th country to legalize gay marriage after New Zealand last month.

It is also the ninth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage after legalization in the traditionally liberal Netherlands and Scandinavia, but also in strongly Catholic Portugal and Spain. Legislation is also moving through the UK Parliament.