Update from San Diego

Marriages continued through the early morning in San Diego as couples gathered with black-robed county clerks on grassy lawns and in front of palm trees. A crowd clapped and cheered as each couple walked down the steps of the San Diego County Administration Building, and they laughed when a male couple drove away in a pair of motorcycles decked out in balloons and "Just Married" signs.

"It's like a carnival of marriage," one woman said, while her friend answered, "Get your ticket!"

The first marriage was performed at 7:22 a.m. between Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner, both 43, who have been together for 15 years. Both men wore suits, while Lehman, a former Marine, added a pin featuring with the U.S. and Marine flags.

The two men said they put on their rings after showering each morning and unofficially exchange vows, saying, "With this ring I thee wed." Now, they don't need to do that anymore, they said.

"It's an emotional thing, to have this recognition," Lehman said.

About an hour later, Molly Quillin and Denise McEwan gathered with family and friends -- Quillin in a peach-colored dress and McEwan in a suit and tie -- to make their five-year partnership official in the eyes of the state of California.

As with many marriages on Tuesday morning, there was a bit of confusion about where they need to go, and the clerk slightly fumbled the ceremony. No wonder: the wording includes "(Name of Partner A)" and "(Name of Partner B)," and the clerks now ask couples ,"Do you take this person to be your lawfully wedded spouse?"

As Quillin and McEwan held hands and gazed into each other's eyes, the ceremony ended as the clerk said, "You are now united in marriage. You may now seal your vows with a kiss."

The couple, who work together at a tile business, kissed in front of a small crowd.

"It's about time," said Quillin's father, William, who quit the Methodist church to protest its policies on gays. "It's about time for gay couples to be, symbolically at least, off the back of the bus."

Quillin said the marriage simply makes them "societally equal," while McEwan said it doesn't change the way they feel about each other. "We love each other the same," she said. "It's not going to change, except maybe to get stronger."

Gregory Smith, San Diego County's clerk, made waves by announcing that his employees could avoid performing marriages for religious reasons. Even so, it seemed that the marriages were being performed smoothly. (Randy Dotinga, The Advocate)

For more marriage coverage, go to Advocate.com.