New York, NY —

Only two same-sex couples came out to say "I domestic partner you" on the first day that the city offered its new civil commitment ceremony.

Richard Hawkins and Stanley Young, partners of nearly two years, filed for a 35-dollar domestic partnership certificate on Thursday, but like most others couples they decided not stay for a ceremony. Hawkins says he's looking forward to the day they can actually get hitched.

“If the law ever changes to where we can legally get married, its just, like a simple step away. We already went this far."

The new ritual is being offered by the City Clerk's office at marriage bureaus in all five boroughs.

City Clerk Michael McSweeney says the vows are similar to those recited during a traditional ceremony, but the ending is different:

“We conclude the ceremony by saying 'By the authority vested in me, in accordance with the rules of the City of New York, I now pronounce you domestic partners.'"

McSweeney says he suspects the demand for the ceremony will heat up on Friday, the busiest day of the week at the marriage bureaus.

Marriage equality groups say that domestic partnership offers few of the legal privileges and protections of marriage and that the City Clerk's ceremonies are basically empty symbolism.

Domestic partnerships have been offered by the city since 1993.