Plaintiffs in US Supreme Court gay marriage battle wed in San Francisco Ms Harris declared Ms Perry, 48, and Ms Stier, 50, "spouses for life," but during their vows, they took each other as "lawfully wedded wife." One of their twin sons served as ring-bearer. Although the couple have fought for the right to wed for years, their wedding came together in a flurry when a federal appeals court issued a brief order on Friday afternoon dissolving, "effective immediately," a stay it imposed on gay marriages while the lawsuit challenging the ban advanced through the courts. Sponsors of California's same-sex marriage ban called the appeals court's swift action "outrageous." The resumption of same-sex marriage this day has been obtained by illegitimate means. If our opponents rejoice in achieving their goal in a dishonorable fashion, they should be ashamed," said Andy Pugno, general counsel for a coalition of religious conservative groups that sponsored Proposition 8. "It remains to be seen whether the fight can go on, but either way, it is a disgraceful day for California," Mr Pugno said. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Wednesday that Proposition 8's sponsors lacked authority to defend the measure in court once Ms Harris and Gov. Jerry Brown, both Democrats, refused to do so. The decision lets stand a trial judge's declaration that the ban, approved by voters in November 2008, violates the civil rights of gay Californians and cannot be enforced. Under Supreme Court rules, the losing side in a legal dispute has 25 days to ask the high court to rehear the case. The court said earlier this week that it would not finalise its ruling in the Proposition 8 case until after that time had elapsed. It was not immediately clear whether the appeals court's action would be halted by the high court, but Governor Jerry Brown directed California counties to start performing same-sex marriages immediately in the wake of it. A memo from Mr Brown's Department of Public Health said "same-sex marriage is again legal in California" and ordered county clerks to resume issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. A jubilant San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced that same-sex couples would be able to marry all weekend in his city, which is hosting its annual gay pride celebration this weekend.