Couple Vincent Aubin and Bruno Boileau made history on Wednesday by being the first gay pair to marry in France, 10 days after the country enacted a gay marriage law that was precipitated by violent protests.

The couple, aged 40 and 30, respectively, said Je fais or I do on Wednesday afternoon before the mayor of Montpellier, considered the most gay-friendly town in France.

However, officials had to set aside earlier plans to broadcast the wedding ceremony live on a giant TV screen in the town square for fear that opponents of same-sex marriage would disrupt the event. But it was beamed live online through the town council's Web site.

The security measures were put in place after a huge anti-gay rally on Sunday in Paris resulted in rioting as protesters threw bricks, bottles and firecrackers that resulted in the detention of 350 people. The protest march, with thousands of participants, was supported by the Roman Catholic Church in Franc and some centre-right and far-right politicians.

Messrs Aubin and Boileau met in an online forum about music six years ago and they hit it off immediately. Mr Aubin is an employee of the Montpellier tourist office while Mr Boileau is a civil servant. They have been living together since they met.

Elodie Brun, a coordinator of the local Gay Pride Association that Mr Aubin heads, said it was a stressful time for the gay couple because of people who tried to mark the symbolic day with words of hate.

France is the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage, which is one of the key social reforms of French Socialist President Francois Hollande.