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There will be the traditional wedding cake, a live band and a reception, but the marriage taking place between two UCLA students today in Bruin Plaza will not be legal.

The Student Coalition for Marriage Equality at UCLA is hosting the mock wedding to educate students on campus about the situation same-sex couples are in.

Though the couple, William and Sean will consider themselves married, the state of California does not recognize same-sex marriages.

The couple asked not to have their last names printed to symbolize all the people in their situation, not just them specifically.

A mock wedding was held last year on campus, and convinced the couple to take part in the one this year.

“It was kind of a no-brainer for us to dedicate to being part of it,” Sean said. “It personalizes the struggle of two specific people in the UCLA community and I hope that that statement rings loud and clear for everyone who attends.”

Groups that oppose same-sex marriage in California are currently looking to defeat Assembly Bill-19, which was defeated 35-37 with 10 abstentions Wednesday in the California Assembly.

If passed, AB-19 would make the state family code gender-neutral, defining marriage as a civil contract between two people, rather than between a man and a woman.

The bill would also affirm the right of religious institutions to refuse to perform same-sex ceremonies.

State Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, motioned for the bill to be reconsidered, although today is the last day the Assembly can vote on bills to pass them along to the state Senate.

Opponents of the bill say they believe that homosexual behavior is condemned in both the Old and New Testament.

The Student Coalition for Marriage Equality was formed this school year to promote marriage equality and to prepare for the June 2006 ballot, which will most likely include amendments to preserve the sanctity of marriage.

Sean said he realizes this event may not sway a majority of student voters, but emphasized this is an important time for same-sex marriage activists.

“Now we actually have the choice and power to change something and for so long its been a freestanding, ‘no questions asked’ adoption of archaic practice, but now we have the ability to question and the ability to challenge and change, hopefully for the better,” he said.

Organizers said one of the main goals of this event is for the coalition to help make the UCLA community aware of where same-sex marriage stands in California, and they believe the wedding ceremony will be a strong way to conclude the quarter.

“This gay marriage is really significant. As a brand-new club we have made so much progress already. We want to go out with a bang,” said Sara Sposito, the director of publicity for the coalition.

This is the first time there has been a group on campus strictly working to promote marriage equality, and the first at any University of California school, according to the coalition.

“For me same-sex marriage is just a civil rights issue, a matter of fundamental fairness,” said Gabriel Rose, a first-year political science student, and founder and president of the coalition.

“If (the amendment) passes, it would take away any chance of having legal same sex marriage, and partnership rights that gay couples have,” Rose said.

Rose and members of the coalition are currently working to put together a database of California voters who will vote down the potential amendment which would prevent gays from marrying.

“We can’t beat this anti-gay amendment unless we have every single person talking to voters and making sure it doesn’t pass. If it does there is no way this type of beautiful ceremony can become a reality in California,” Rose said.

Same-sex marriage and partnership rights that come along with marriage are currently banned in 14 states, Rose said. Massachusetts is the only state in which same-sex marriage is legal. The issue of same-sex marriage is decided upon by each individual state, not by Congress.

The wedding will take place at 12 p.m. in Westwood Plaza.