Gay marriage became legal in California at exactly 5.01pm yesterday, triggering a flurry of nuptials by same sex couples keen to be among the first to tie the knot.

Hundreds of volunteers have been deputised to marry couples in tents and on courthouse lawns.

Leading the way were Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 83, who exchanged vows and rings in San Francisco's ornate City Hall within minutes of the legal change last night. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who officiated, drew a ripple of laughter from the guests by warning the couple: "The contract of marriage is most solemn. It is not be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously." The pair have been together for 55 years.

The legal change, which makes California the second US state after Massachusetts to sanction gay marriages, came into effect after the state's Supreme Court struck down a ban on homosexual marriage last month.

Unlike Massachusetts, California will also open its doors to same sex couples from other states to come to celebrate their wedding there.

A mini boom in West Coast weddings is predicted, but the phenomenon may be shortlived. Californian voters will have the option in November's elections to end same same sex marriages, which have already had a chequered political history.

Ms Martin and Ms Lyon were married before, during Mayor Newsom's so-called Winter of Love in 2004 when, once again, gay unions were briefly legalised. Later however a court declared those marrriages null and the wedding licence fees were refunded by the state.

Some Californians object to same sex marriage, claiming that it is contrary to the tenets of their religion.

At the traditional Jewish wedding of Robin Tyler and Diane Olson in Beverley Hills City Hall, a small group of protesters hovered in the background, holding placards which read: "Legalising gay marriage is legalising sin", and "Sodomites hear the truth - judgment and hell for what you do".

"Blasphemy," one protester muttered, as the rest of the crowd repeated amen. "Next they'll have men marrying goats, marrying their blow-up dolls... once you let down barriers there's no more barriers left."

Ms Tyler and Ms Olson, who wed in matching white trouser suits, were two of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court legal battle that led to the change in the law.

"I feel fabulous," Ms Tyler said after the ceremony, as she fed her new spouse a piece of wedding cake. "I feel in love, I feel giddy, I feel happy. It's like it's not real... Here is the final ending to our beautiful story: 'And they lived happily ever after'."

A total of 45 US states will not recognise the California unions, but New York has said that it will, raising hopes that it will be next to adopt the legal change.

George Takei, the actor who plays Mr Sulu in Star Trek, who plans to wed his partner Brad Altman later this year, said: "I'm sure it won't be too long before (gay) New Yorkers will be able to be married in their own state.

"We are boldly going where no-one has gone before."

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