In San Francisco, Controlled Chaos

In a marked contrast from the "first come, first serve" marriages being performed all over California today, gay couples in San Francisco essentially reserved their time slots to wed through the county clerk. The result is a more orderly affair than the mad rush for marriage when it was briefly authorized in the city four years ago, but the media crush remains the same.

First to enter City Hall was couple Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit urging for same-sex marriage. As Lewis cleared reporters and cameramen out of the way to create a makeshift aisle, Gaffney walked down it, accompanied by his mother, Estelle Lau. "I'm wonderfully excited to be here today," said Lau. "They've worked so hard for this moment."

The service was officiated by federal judge Thelton Henderson, who Lewis clerks for. As he said, "I now pronounce you lawfully wedded spouses for life," the couple's family and friends (numbering about fifty) burst into cheers.

Though Lewis and Gaffney were the first to enter City Hall, the media onslaught allowed another couple to squeak past them, claiming the first marriage of the day. Jeffrey Halpern and Hank Donat, together for eight years, entered the north light court yelling, "Hey everyone, we're getting married!" The third time is the charm for the couple, who married in 2004 following a domestic partnership. "It's the happiest day of my life -- for the third time!" said Halpern.

For more marriage coverage, go to Advocate.com.