'Family Ties' Star Meredith Baxter Marries Partner

Actress Meredith Baxter, best known for her role as Elyse Keaton on the '80s sitcom "Family Ties," married her longtime partner Nancy Locke, People magazine reports.

Baxter, 66, and Locke, a contractor, tied the knot in an "intimate ceremony on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles," People writes. Close friends and family, including Baxter's five children, attended the ceremony.

During the ceremony, a friend sang and played guitar and Locke's band played during the reception. People notes that the women took dancing lessons to prepare for their first dance as a married couple.

"Now I understand why marriage caught on!" Baxter told the publication.

Baxter, who came out as a lesbian in 2009 during an interview on the "Today" show, has been dating Locke for seven years.

Last month TMZ reported the women obtained a marriage license.

In 2012, the actress opened up about coming out and spoke with AOL about her decision.

"I thought I was gonna drop into a hole," she said. "I thought it was going to be the end of my career. I thought it was setting myself on fire. I thought it was the end. And it turned out to be the best possible thing I could ever have done. I didn't know to want the freedom that came, but it was glorious. I really hope other people will take that as an example, a vote of hope and confidence, that their life can change and be okay after coming out."