Marriage plans are underway for gay couples around the country after Parliament voted to legalise same sex marriages overnight.

MPs passed the Marriage Amendment Bill 77-44 votes in Parliament last night – making New Zealand the 13^th country in the world to legalise same sex marriage.

John Beech says the passing of the gay marriage bill is a significant moment for the country.

In Tauranga, Garden and Arts Festival director John Beech says the law change is a significant moment in history for the gay community, and country as a whole.

John has been with his partner for five-and-a-half years and says they will look at either a civil union or marriage now the bill has been passed.

'We are the 13th country to legalise gay marriage, which I think is quite significant in itself.”

He says the gay community is like every other part of the community in New Zealand.

'I'm sure the response is going to be as diverse as any other issue in any other community.

'There will be all different ranging views from gay people. Mine personally is that it is about equal rights and freedom of choice.”

John says a lot of gay couples he knows would prefer to have a marriage as opposed to a civil union.

He says a lot of religious gay people are going to find the passing of the bill significant knowing they can be officially married.

'Depending on what aspect you want to take on it, whether it's a religious aspect or a legal rights aspect or whether it is about purely being able to know the person you love.

'There has to be acceptance and tolerance in everything, and in all our communities.”

Tauranga marriage celebrant Michelle Muir is all for same sex couples getting married.

'It's fantastic. I think it is great that people in love get to declare their love for each other in front of their family and friends.

'It's equality and it's fantastic.”

She says she will be performing same sex marriages as part of her service, which will be a first for her as she hasn't performed Civil Unions in the past.

'I am totally open to it.

'I don't think it will affect the community, they live together anyway so why not let them get married.”

Labour MP and sponsor of the Marriage Equality Bill Louisa Wall is delighted with Parliament's vote.

'I am very proud to be a Member of a Parliament that has voted overwhelmingly to give New Zealanders, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender, the right to marry,” Louisa Wall said.

New Zealand Dream Weddings owner and operator Donna Dohi says the news of the bill being passed it fantastic.

'I have been doing Civil Unions since it was passed. I think it is fantastic. It is about time.

'There is no difference between a male and female being married, to two people of the same sex.”

She says the only difference between a Civil Union and a marriage for same sex couples will be the wording.

'Civil Unions mean they are partners for life, but with this new bill it will be wife and wife or husband and husband. It's just the same as a male and female getting married.”

It's not just Donna who is happy with the news, she says her colleagues are all for it too.

'Just looking on my Facebook for New Zealand Dream Weddings, I stuck on it that we were waiting for it to be passed 24 hours ago and in that time I have received 17 more likes and they are coming from Hong Kong, China and Aussie. So they have been watching and waiting.

'It's just fantastic, we are moving with the times.”