People.com Celebrity Meredith Baxter Marries Nancy Locke The Family Ties actress wed her longtime partner in L.A. By Aili Nahas Aili Nahas Aili Nahas is the West Coast Deputy News Editor at PEOPLE. She is also the TV deputy in Los Angeles as well as the Weddings Editor. Aili has spent nearly two decades in the entertainment industry and 12 years at PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on December 8, 2013 08:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Beck Starr/Wireimage Family Ties star Meredith Baxter has tied the knot! Baxter, 66, and her longtime partner, contractor Nancy Locke, were married in an intimate ceremony on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles. Close friends and family – including Baxter’s five children – looked on as the couple exchanged handwritten vows. Music played a central theme in the celebration. A friend sang and played guitar during the ceremony and at the reception, Locke’s band took the stage. Locke and Baxter even took lessons to prepare for their first dance as a married couple. The pair have been dating for seven years; in 2009, Baxter, came out as a lesbian. Happy bride Baxter tells PEOPLE: “Now I understand why marriage caught on!” PHOTOS: The Year in Celebrity Wedding Photos