Jim Verraros knows it's not legal for him to get married in Illinois, however that didn't stop him from celebrating his love for his partner.

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The gay American Idol first-season finalist wed entrepreneur Bill Brennan on Sunday at Illinois' Oak Brook Hills Resort, People reported Monday.

"Gay marriage is not legal in Illinois," Verraros told People. "But we wanted the day to be a reflection of our love and commitment to each other as well as a statement to other gay couples in Illinois."

Verraros and Brennan exchanged vows at the outdoor nuptials, which included a unity sand ceremony that was attended by 174 family members and friends.  The ceremony was followed by a Hollywood-themed reception.

"Since this is a gay wedding, we wanted both traditional touches as well as original ones," Verraros told People.  "Every little choice reflected who we are.  It was the most beautiful day."

Verraros finished ninth during Idol's Summer 2002 first season.  The couple subsequently met in 2005 when Brennan sent Verraros a MySpace message.

"Because I had gotten so many messages through MySpace, I wasn't sure how to respond to Bill's. I read over his profile first, of course (to see if we had anything in common, or if he was a weirdo) and most of what he had on his profile enticed me," Verraros wrote in a recent posting on the website mywedding.com.

"We played phone tag for a few days until he invited me over to his house before leaving for a local club."

Verraros described Brennan as "warm" and "a genuinely good person with a good soul."

"There was something about Bill that I was immediately drawn towards; his sense of humor, his beautiful blue eyes (sometimes green depending on the color of his shirt) and his personality that made him stand out to me," wrote Verraros.

"It was the first time in my life I could say to myself, I'm in love with him. It's funny how life works sometimes; you never think you'd ever find your soul mate so early on in life, but I had."

In addition, Verraros expressed hope that gay marriage will someday be legalized in Illinois but also stated that it does not hinder his love from Brennan.

"Looking back on our four years together, we've come so far and grown so close together. He's not only my partner, but my confidante, my soul mate, my best friend, and the love of my life. When we're apart, I miss him and when we're together, I think to myself how lucky I am that our paths have crossed and intertwined," wrote Verraros.

"This wedding is a culmination of our lives so far, and our lives from this point onward. It is so imperative to the both of us that our friends and family see just how in love we are, and how happy we are to share it with everyone."

In May, Verraros released two new singles -- "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" and "Electric Love" -- via YouTube, and he's currently working on his third album.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio

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