TRENTON, N.J. -- The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation allowing for gay nuptials Thursday, a historic vote that sets the Democrat-controlled Legislature up for a fight with Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

The 80-member Assembly narrowly passed the bill in a 42-33 vote largely along party lines, with four absences and one vacancy. No Republicans supported the bill, which Christie had called on his party to oppose, and four Democrats also voted no. The governor has pledge to override the bill swiftly if it comes to his desk.

"Today I will be standing for equality," said Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, a Democrat. "The families of New Jersey cannot afford for us to wait for one minute longer for truly equal treatment under the law."

The Legislature was packed during Thursday vote, with same-sex marriage supporters wearing blue and opponents dressed in red. Turnout was much greater than Monday, when the state Senate approved the same legislation by 24-16. Two Republicans joined all but two of the upper chamber's Democrats in supporting the bill.

"The history of marriage as between one man and one woman is an institution that predates any society," said Father Timothy Christy, the pastor of St. Magdlen de Pazzi Church in Flemington, N.J., who was among the bill opponents. "It is such a deeply held social norm."