Photo: Essence.com

Last year, ESSENCE.com featured the website’s first lesbian couple in its wedding column, “Bridal Bliss.” Aisha and Danielle Moodie-Mills were married on August 7, 2010, and were among the first couples to apply for a marriage license after the capital became the sixth jurisdiction to achieve marriage equality. The couple shared their love story and wedding photos on ESSENCE.com, which had previously only showcased straight couples. Their story received over 5,000 likes and hundreds of supportive comments. ESSENCE.com went on to win a GLAAD award at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards for its exemplary coverage. Today, in a follow-up piece, ESSENCE.com profiles the newlyweds to wish them a happy anniversary and to find out what their first year of marriage was like. “Aisha and I have been together now for seven and a half years, and I can tell you that living and being married allows you the commitment level to live more open and authentically with each other, and as a couple,” Danielle tells ESSENCE.com. “Everything that we do, whether it be at work, in our personal lives, or in our relationships with family and friends — everyone kind of feels that we’re building this foundation for something huge. Which is our life, our family, and our legacy,” Aisha adds. “It’s a boisterous thing. I didn’t realize it before when I’d talk to married couples. It leaves me feeling more vibrant. Our relationship glows more and it reflects the people around us." GLAAD applauds ESSENCE for continuing to shine light on LGBT love and lives. We encourage everyone to show their support for Aisha and Danielle in the ESSENCE.com comment section.

Happy Anniversary, Aisha and Danielle!