Like many couples married Tuesday, Cantwell, 42, and Lanzerotti, 38, have had a commitment ceremony and also got married in San Francisco in 2004. Though Tuesday was their third time saying their vows, Cantwell said it felt different.

"It's more serious this time because we know it's real," she said. Cantwell was so excited to make their union legal that she interrupted deputy marriage commissioner Jennifer Rakowski in the middle of the vows to shout, "I do!" As the 30 friends and family surrounding the couple chuckled, Cantwell explained. "We've been waiting a long time." The ceremony was interrupted a second time — by cheers -- when Rakowski noted the power vested in her by the state of California. "I hope we won't have to do this again," Lanzerotti said. "I know we won't," Cantwell answered. -- Marisa Lagos

Grimes and Heast met at a restaurant and exchanged rings a year later. They've owned a hair salon in West Hollywood for six years. The couple got their marriage license Tuesday, but aren't officially tying the knot until Saturday in a group ceremony at the same West Hollywood courthouse.

"We had a pool at work to see how long it would take for him to ask me out," said Green. "He served beef stroganoff to a vegetarian on the first date, but I ate it anyway." -- Peter Fimrite

A cheering crowd on Tuesday greeted Papo and Weiss, who wore white beaded dresses to San Francisco City Hall. "We wanted to be part of history, of making history," Weiss said. "When we were little girls growing up we always thought we'd get married," added Papo. "Today we are absolutely overjoyed." -- Marisa Lagos

"We always considered ourselves married," said Campbell. "I actually have the date - March 25, 1975 - when we first got together, tattooed on my left shoulder ... He thought I should have done it backward so he could read it in the mirror when I was shaving." -- Peter Fimrite

"I think this is now our third time," Dresser said. "First we were registered domestic partners in the state. I proposed that time. I proposed in Vancouver, Canada. We were on vacation. And then the second proposal on Feb. 13, 2004, when we thought we had the first opportunity to legally get married. And I called him up at work and said, 'Hey, we have to do this. We have to take advantage of it.' Because at that time we weren't sure we would have the opportunity to marry. This time around when the opportunity came up, I said, 'OK, I've proposed twice, now it's your turn.' So he proposed to me." -- Justin Beck

"We're hoping that three is a charm," Hull said. "We're hoping this is the one that sticks." -- John Cote

"It feels normal. This is normal now," Hardie said. "You get to have the same process as anybody else. That's really cool." -- John Coté

The men wed at San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday wearing matching black tuxedoes, white bow ties and white orchid boutonnieres. "This is making our relationship just as important as my mom and my dad's — it's nothing less," Baglieri said. "They were married 46 years." -- Heather Knight

"We've always been together, we've always been committed, we've always felt married," Belfor said. "It feels real this time." -- Cecilia M. Vega

The mothers of two came to City Hall Tuesday morning to get their marriage license and then rushed home to get ready for their ceremony this afternoon. "We have the limo. We have the flowers, the dresses and a wedding cake situation," O'Rourke said. Their 2-year-old daughter, Keaton, was very excited about her flower girl dress. Afterward, 23 of their friends and family will celebrate with the brides over dinner. -- Heather Knight

"We have been waiting 12 years for this. We didn't want to wait any longer," said Silverman, 35. They don't plan to use the California marriage certificate they obtained in San Francisco on Tuesday to challenge the Kansas ban on same-sex marriage. "We're going to sit in front of the TV with our little dog and relax," said Greenbaum, 37. -- Wyatt Buchanan

"I didn't really think about marriage because it has never been an option," said Taylor, who moved from Montana to the Bay Area in 1982 to become a Presbyterian minister. "The (state) Supreme Court had the courage to recognize that it is a fundamental right for each of us to choose who we will marry." -- Peter Fimrite

"We were waiting for a long time for the law to pass," said Galvez, 35, who proposed to Alcazar, also 35, just after the ruling. "I said, 'Let's go get married.' But I'm a little nervous because I've never been married before." -- Carolyn Jones

"This is all kind of anti-climactic and surreal," said Gormley. "We expected right until this morning that someone would come in and put a stop to it." -- Carolyn Jones

"I'm an activist, but this isn't about activism, this is about love and being able to love someone publicly," Pahl said. "It's very hard as a young person to come out, and to have this day, with so much support, to be able to show Isaiah he has a real family and not some patched-together thing, is enormously meaningful." -- Meredith May

"We wanted to get married in San Jose because this is our real home," Richard said. "When we got married over Valentine's weekend in San Francisco, we thought for sure the courts would strike it down but it lasted for months. Now it's real. What can they do to us? We're married!" -- Meredith May

Michelle Julaton and Vanessa Angeles, both 29

Jami Matanky (left) and Vandi Linstrot

Hometown:

Oakland

How long together:

24 years

How they met:

On a rafting trip on the American River. They’re registered domestic partners and have two sons.

Listen: 1:2 min

(Download Audio .49 MB)

"It feels like we're already married, in a lot of ways," said Linstrot, 52. "But getting married was never an option so we never thought we'd have this opportunity." Matanky, also 52, added, "So when we did get the opportunity, I just said, 'Let's do it.'." -- Carolyn Jones

Steve Meyer (right), 59 and Dayton Azevedo, 67

Hometown:

Richmond

How long together:

18 years

How they met:

"We met at a gay bathhouse in Berkeley," said Meyer, 59, moments before he said his "I Do's" with Azevedo, 67, at the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder's office. "Can we say that publicly?" Meyer said. "It's the truth," Azevedo said, smiling. "We've been together ever since," Meyer said. The couple bonded over their love of cooking — Azevedo is a professional chef — as well as gardening, travel and staying in shape at the gym. Azevedo proposed to Meyer after the state Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriages.

"It's time we enjoy the rights every other married couple has," Dayton said. -- Christopher Heredia

Bill Wilson (right), 58, and Fernando Orlandi, 59

Hometown:

San Francisco

How long together:

22 years

How they met:

Wilson and Orlandi met at a bar in Washington D.C. in 1986. They registered as California domestic partners the day that became legal in 1999, were married in 2004 on the first day of weddings at City Hall and were one of the first couples this morning. They were married by Mayor Gavin Newsom in a private ceremony in the mayor's office.

"We wanted to be married on the first day in 2008 and we hope it is the last time," Wilson said. -- Wyatt Buchanan

Huong Nguyen, 34, and Alison Beck, 32

Hometown:

Oakland

How long together:

13 years

How they met:

They were students living in the same dorm at UCLA. Nguyen was a specialist in the Army and a cadet in ROTC. Beck was organizing a campaign to boot ROTC off campus. Nguyen picked love over the military, coming out to her commander and being discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Now they have two sons, Theryn, 5, and Rowan, 3.

Nguyen and Beck got their marriage license Tuesday and will wed in a backyard ceremony on Aug. 23. Nguyen said she never dreamed of a big wedding as a girl. "I wasn't very romantic in that way, but we dreamt of it when we got together. I feel a great sense of gratitude for everyone who has fought for this issue. We're just trying to take it all in." -- Heather Knight

Michael (left) and Clayton Price-Brown

Hometown:

Richmond

How long together:

3 1/2 years

How they met:

They met while perusing Yahoo personals, a dating Web site. "I'd love to do a testimonial for them but I can't reach anybody at corporate headquarters," Michael, 44, said with a chuckle. "It works." Clayton, 45, proposed to Michael after hearing about last month's state Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex weddings. They were among the first couples to marry in Contra Costa on Tuesday.

"It was a natural reaction, a way to express my love to him," Clayton said. The couple rode in style. in a limousine to the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder's office in Martinez. "Yes I have jitters," Michael said. "Me, too," chimed in Clayton. "It'd be worse but we had champagne on the way over." -- Christopher Heredia

Marilyn Lang, 58, and Darlene Lindstrom, 52

Hometown:

Landers (San Bernardino County)

How long together:

Five years

How they met:

Lang and Lindstrom met while attending the Metropolitan Community Church of Coachella Valley in Cathedral City. Lindstrom liked that Lang is a Christian; Lang joked that Lindstrom's legs were the reason she was attracted. They married in their church this morning.

Listen:

(Download Audio .46 MB)

"This is the most important day in the gay rights movement," said Lindstrom. "Now we're equal with everybody else. We're not at the back of the bus anymore." -- Michael Cabanatuan

Rodney Naccarato, 40, and Jim Winstead, 36

Hometown:

San Francisco

How long together:

8 years

How they met:

On the Internet

Listen: 1:15 min

(Download Audio .74 MB)

Naccarato and Winstead have been through this before. "This our third try!" said Naccarato. "We had a commitment ceremony in '02, we were married here in '04, and this is the third time around." The couple, accompanied by their 17-month hold son, Ezekiel, say "Third time's the charm!" They plan to have a larger ceremony with family in July. -- Marisa Lagos

 

Robin Tyler, 66, and Diane Olson, 54

Hometown:

Beverly Hills

How long together:

15 years

How they met:

The couple met through friends in the 1970s, but waited 25 years to start dating. On Valentine's Day 2004, they went to the Beverly Hills courthouse to request a marriage license and were refused -- thus setting off a 4-year legal battle. Tyler and Olson were among the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit that eventually overturned California's ban on gay and lesbian marriages. They were the first same-sex couple married in Los Angeles County at 5:01 p.m. Monday, at the same Beverly Hill courthouse.

"We're not nervous today. We've known each other 15 years. We've consummated the marriage. We love each other. Once the love of every couple getting married showers California, no one will want to change the constitution," Tyler said. -- Erin Allday

 

Michele Rutherford, 53 and and Erin-Kate Whitcomb, 42

Hometown:

San Francisco

How long together:

16 years

How they met:

Singing in the Vocal Minority choir nearly two decades ago

The couple came down to San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday to get their marriage license with their kids Parker, 8 and Hayden, 6. They plan on having a wedding later with family in attendance. "I just really wanted it to be real, as opposed to the facade of it," said Rutherford of why the couple has waited. "One of the reasons we only got our license today is I am getting a veil. And some posies! Because I have the right to do that." -- Marisa Lagos

 

Thomas Van Etten, 64, and Robert Van Etten, 69

Hometown:

Palm Springs

How long together:

40 years

How they met:

Thomas and Robert met in one of the two gay bars that existed in Minneapolis at the time. It was, they said, one of the only places gay people had to meet. The next morning, Robert called a friend and said he thought he'd met the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. In 1975, they took the same last name. The former San Franciscans, now retired, moved to Palm Springs in 2000.

Listen: 1:15 min

(Download Audio .74 MB)

"This is a dream come true," said Thomas Van Etten. "I never thought we'd see this day. I'm so happy. I've loved him for 40 years and now I can legally marry him." -- Michael Cabanatuan

 

Dean Seymour and Philip Colavito

Hometown:

Palm Springs

How long together:

8 years

How they met:

Seymour, 44, and Colavito, 43, belonged to the same Los Angeles yacht club, and they met each other aboard a friend's boat on an outing to Catalina Island in 2000. They moved to Palm Springs a year later.

Listen:

(Download Audio .51 MB)

"This is important to us," said Seymour. "I hate to call our wedding a cause, but the cause is very important." -- Michael Cabanatuan

 

Paul Festa, 38, and James Harker, 31

Hometown:

San Francisco

How long together:

5 1/2 years

How they met:

On-line. They e-mailed for a month before meeting in person at Foreign Cinema where they had dinner and watched "Goldfinger."

They have a domestic partnership and married in 2004 before being married again Tuesday by Mayor Gavin Newsom in his office. So which of the three anniversaries will they mark? "The one we really celebrate is the first date," Festa said. "That's when we knew."

 

Hank Donat and Jeff Halpern (left)

Hometown:

Hank Donat: Boston, MA; Jeff Halpern: Holyoke, MA. Both live in SF.

How long together:

8 years

Listen: 00:28 min

(Download Audio .22 MB)

"We met through friends and our first date was at a coffee shop in Nob Hill. I don't know if we had a proposal this time around ... I proposed, and I think you proposed, and we just decided to get married. It was just the right thing to do."

Hank Donat: "And really to correct the injustice that was done in 2004 when our original wedding was reversed." -- Justin Beck and Cory Lopez

 

Tyler Barrick (left), 27, and Spencer Jones, 29

Hometown:

Both live in San Francisco, though Barrick grew up in Idaho and Jones is from Utah

How long together:

6 years

How they met:

Barrick and Jones met in Utah at a friend's party. Jones proposed last weekend in Big Sur.

Listen: 00:48 min

(Download Audio .48 MB)

"We want to be part of history and what better day than today," said Barrick, adding that the couple plans to have a larger celebration later this year. "This means everything to us -- it means that our love is the same as everyone else's." Added Spencer, "we want to affirm marriage. We think it's a great thing and finally, today, we can be a part of it." -- Marisa Lagos

 

Brad Akin (left) and Paul Hill

Hometown:

San Francisco

How long together:

13 years

How they met:

Through friends at a barbecue. "I knew he was he guy!" Hill said. Akin agreed, "Me too!"

The men have a 17-year-old daughter. "I've always told her I would marry her father the first minute I could and that's today at 8:30 a.m.," Akin said. "I've heard people say this is the happiest day of your life, and it is -- until tomorrow."

 

Joann Bratton (left) and Sheryl Bratton

Hometown:

Penngrove

How long together:

11 years

How they met:

The couple, who have a 4-year-old daughter, Ella, met at a friend's commitment ceremony 11 years ago and had their own commitment ceremony nine years ago.

"It's symbolic, it makes it legal, it makes it right," said Joann Bratton. She and Sheryl Bratton decided to marry on Monday night because, "there's people trying to stop this. (We) wanted to make a public statement to show everyone traditional marriages are still intact. We are two people who love each other." -- Jill Tucker

 

Doug Erickson and Al Muller

Hometown:

Guerneville

How long together:

37 years

How they met:

In a Los Angeles bar in 1971

"It's been a long wait," said Erickson as the couple waited to be called to the counter Monday night in Sonoma County. They were the third couple to marry there.

"We have considered ourselves married from day one, but now we can't get thrown out of hospitals," he said. -- Jill Tucker

Melanie Phoenix, 47, (left) and Terry Robinson, 48

Hometown:

Santa Rosa

How long together:

25 years

How they met:

The couple met at the Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco. They picked up their marriage license in Sonoma County on Monday and plan to wed in a ceremony on Aug. 1.

"It was one of those movie things -- love at first sight. It really was a storybook. It really does happen," Phoenix said. -- Jill Tucker

 

Traci Duncan, 44 and Sherri White, 53

Hometown:

Oakland

How they met:

The couple met at a party exactly two years ago Monday. White, a teacher, asked Duncan, a mental health counselor, out. They decided to have a ceremony Monday, on their anniversary, interlaced with some African-American traditions.

The couple was married by the Rev. Dr. D. Mark Wilson, and surrounded by friends and family. Wilson noted the significance of two black women being married with such support.

"Folks like us are not often in a place like this, so it's significant to have this recognition," he said. "It takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a whole community to keep a relationship together."

White said the relationship got serious when she told Duncan she'd "found somebody I want to date exclusively." Duncan nervously asked her who -- she answered, "You!" --Christopher Heredia