A word the community understands

Even in Utah some newspapers are printing same-sex wedding announcements, though not all of then are using the word "wedding." Along with that come findings that if a gay couple goes to Calif. or Mass. to get married when they get home their community understands what marriage is in ways that "domestic partnership" and "civil union" can't portray. This distinction leads a commentator to say:

Gay couples returning from [Calif. and Mass.] with marriage certificates will irreversibly change their home states. Not because their state will recognize their marriage; most probably won’t. But because their neighbors will.