Get out your perfumed rice satchels, for Dow Constantine, owner of the finest head of hair in local politics and our King County executive, married longtime girlfriend Shirley Carlson, a fashion-industry strategist, in a private courtroom ceremony on October 31, he announced today. "Shirley really likes Halloween and the humor of it appealed to us," he tells The Stranger. Here's a picture of the lovebirds about to get hitched:

They picked a fairy-tale officiant—Judge Mary Yu, pronounced "marry you"—to preside over their intimate, low-key nuptials. "We wanted to wait until all the election business was behind us before telling folks (meaning, ultimately, the press)," he said in the e-mail to colleagues, which he's since sent to the press.

The couple met as undergrads at the University of Washington but decided that they wouldn't tie the knot as long as marriage laws excluded same-sex couples. "This was was the first Halloween after marriage equality... we thought this was really legitimate now," says Constantine, who issued the county's first same-sex marriage licenses, while Judge Yu presided over the first services.

How long did the lovebirds wait? "I am 52, and she is younger than I am," Constantine says.

Rumors buzzed yesterday that this was a requisite stop in Constantine's journey toward higher office, a rumor Constantine put to rest today. "It doesn't have anything to do with higher office," he says. "I think people are well past that now; one of our two US senators is single. Our mayor-elect is gay and married. I don't think sexual orientation or marital state is relevant anymore in this corner of the country." That may be true, but never put it past a few small-minded trolls to be assholes. Congratulations again to the charming couple, who we can only hope is swimming in well-wishes and wedding cake (BRING US SOME) this weekend and into eternity. Together. As One. Amen.