SAN FRANCISCO -- California's millions of gay couples can start getting legally hitched Tuesday as a historic ruling by the state Supreme Court takes effect.

The gay marriage rush is expected to kick-start an estimated US$700 million splurge on flowers, cakes, hotels, photographers and other wedding services over the next three years, and create 2,200 new jobs, according to a study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

"It's unbelievable," says Israeli immigrant Dana Peleg, who will marry her long-time partner Mimi Hill this week. "It may only be a piece of paper, but for us it's the most important piece of paper in the world." Looking on proudly will be their son Boaz, and a host of friends and supporters.

But Peleg and Hill won't be the first gay couple to tie the knot in California. Hundreds of other couples got hitched in 2004 thanks to Gavin Newsom, mayor of the gay-friendly city of San Francisco. In 2004 he decided to ignore state regulations defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and ordered city clerks to begin performing same-sex marriages.

That launched a frenzy of gay weddings until a court ruled them illegal. Then last month an appeal by two gay couples yielded a ruling that such restrictions violated the state's constitution guaranteeing equal rights to all.

"We've waited a long time for this, and it really won't matter if we're the first or just one of the first," said Diane Olson, who with her partner of 15 years, Robin Tyler, was one of those who lodged the successful appeal. "We're just on cloud nine that we can marry."

They will become one of the first same-sex couples to legally marry in California when they exchange vows at 5:01 p.m. Monday before a Jewish rabbi in front of the Beverly Hills courthouse. Acting Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan announced Thursday he would issue an early marriage license to Tyler and Olson "in recognition of their unique role in the court's decision."

Similar arrangements were made in San Francisco to allow Mayor Gavin Newsom to officiate at the marriage of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon on Monday evening. Martin and Lyon were the first same-sex couple to marry during the 2004 "Winter of Love" in that city, but this time their wedding will be legal.

The two ceremonies will precede the thousands expected to take place in California beginning Tuesday morning when marriage licenses can legally be issued to same-sex couples. To reflect the gender neutral status of the union, marriage licenses have been amended to read "Party A" and "Party B" rather than the more traditional "bride" and "groom."

Tyler says the legal unions in the largest and most important state in the U.S. are a sure sign that the tide has turned on all aspects of gay rights.

"The truth is we started this lawsuit against everybody telling us we would lose," said Tyler. Added Olson: "They kept telling us, 'Wait. Wait. It'll be political suicide. Don't rock any boats. It's too soon. It's a Republican-appointed Supreme Court.'"

"I said, 'I'm not afraid of conservatives if they'll interpret the Constitution.'"

But the battle isn't quite over yet.

Conservative opponents have tabled a ballot initiative for the November elections which would amend the California constitution to outlaw gay nuptials.

A poll taken after last month's supreme court ruling found that 51 percent of California voters approve of gay marriage, with 42 percent opposed.

A lot can change before November but pollster Mark DiCamillo believes that gay marriage is here to stay. "It's a generational replacement, with older folks being replaced by younger voters very much in favor of same-sex marriage," he said.