Denmark's Parliament has approved a law allowing same-sex couples to get married in formal church weddings instead of the short blessing ceremonies that the state's Lutheran Church currently offers.

The legislation was passed Thursday with 85 votes in favor and 24 against. It takes effect June 15 and will put Denmark on par with countries such as Iceland and Sweden that allow full wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.

In 1989, Denmark became the world's first country to allow homosexual marriages and it later allowed gay couples to get a special blessing at church. Under the new law same-sex couples can be united in a full-fledged church wedding.