MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s largest county is getting ready to start taking applications for marriage licenses from same-sex couples.

Officials say Hennepin County will start accepting applications on June 6. That’s seven weeks before the Aug. 1 date that gay couples can start legally getting married in Minnesota.

The new application forms replace the words “bride” and “groom” with the word “applicant” for both individuals.

A spokesman for neighboring Ramsey County said that officials will roll out that county’s new license in the next few days. Spokesman Art Coulson said some couples have already expressed a desire to be married at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 and that officials are working to accommodate that.