Tony Kushner and Mark Harris met five years ago. Last month they affirmed their partnership before friends in Manhattan. The occasion made the "VOWS" feature in the NYTimes Styles section this past Sunday.

They started planning their commitment ceremony soon after 9/11, buying rings at Tiffany's and complementary gray-toned suits at Saks.

The sales clerks were all accommodating, they said. "One cake designer I called said, 'We specialize in elaborate beautiful white flowers all over the cake,'" Mr. Harris recalled. "So I said, 'I should tell you, this is for two men.' There was a slight pause and she said, `I can put little baseball players all over it?'"