The moment California became the second state to start marrying gay couples, America's wedding album gained memorable snapshots.

Who could not be touched by seeing Del Martin, 87, cutting a three-tiered wedding cake from her wheelchair, helped by her 83-year-old bride, Phyllis Lyon?

But the picture I'll most treasure is of a toddler in a pressed shirt and oversized tie, his dark hair wetted down and parted perfectly, gleefully squirming in one dad's arms while his other dad took a break from their special day to tell CNN how their family will be stronger because of the legal protections of marriage.

Oddly, the most exciting thing about the delightful first wave of gay weddings across California was how much the nation took it in stride. CNN flashed supportive headlines, such as "HAPPY COUPLES" and "JUST MARRIED," but then quickly returned to coverage of flooded rivers.

And unlike in Massachusetts, where then-Gov. Mitt Romney was the skunk at the garden party, California's officials embraced the gay breakthrough. The supportive politicians' diversity underscores the breadth of support for the newlyweds: Mayors Gavin Newsom of San Francisco (white) and Ron Dellums of Oakland (African-American) performed ceremonies. And Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles (Latino) will, too.

With gay couples thoroughly woven into their state's fabric, heterosexual Californians are familiar with gay parents, meaning they know marriage will protect the little girl in their carpool, not just her lesbian moms: One-quarter of the Golden State's 108,000 gay couples have kids, the Williams Institute estimates, and one in 10 adopted children in the state has a gay parent.

The Williams Institute projects that over the first three years gay couples will spend $683.6 million on California weddings and generate $63.8 million in government revenues. As Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sweetly summed it up, "You know, I'm wishing everyone good luck with their marriages, and I hope that California's economy is booming because everyone is going to come here and get married."

Challenges are definitely ahead: A community-spirited "Make Change, Not Lawsuits" educational drive smartly discourages out-of-staters who marry from recklessly suing back home.

And a California ballot initiative threatens to halt the marriages. But I'm betting most voters will recognize the advantages of not turning back the clock.

A Field Poll released May 28, right after the California Supreme Court ruled the state could no longer discriminate, found a majority -- 51 to 42 percent -- support gay couples' marrying. Among residents ages 18 to 29, support for gay marriage is 68-25 percent, compared with 36-55 percent among those 65 or older.

And by 54-40 percent, Californians oppose "changing the California state constitution" to bar gay marriages.

The wedding snapshots tell the story: Happiness loves to be shared.