A District of Columbia appeals court has unanimously rejected an attempt to stop same-sex marriages in Washington, D.C.

Same-sex marriages in the nation's capital city could begin as soon as Wednesday.

The D.C. City Council voted last December in favor of the marriage equality act allowing gay marriage. The bill was then signed by Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Unless Congress steps in at the last minute with a joint resolution and a signature from President Barak Obama, gay marriages would be allowed in D.C.

However, D.C. area churches are exempt from having to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies.

The bill does not have the support from the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.