Court-ship: Six couples get married on the Flagler courthouse steps

Clerk of the Court Tom Bexley renewed the Valentine's Day tradition after two years of Covid cancelations.

By Brent Woronoff
| 10:07 p.m. February 14, 2023

Roberto and Jean Lopez have been together for five years. On Velentine's Day they get married with five other couples on the steps of the Flagler County courthouse. Photo by Brent Woronoff

James Scofield Jr. and Lisa Scofield renew their vows. James is a security guard at the courthouse. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Daniel MaNeil and Tara Kusak. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Patkey and Judith Harris. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Rickie and Beverly Slater. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Alexandra and Mark Castro had a purple theme. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Couples Jenni Doyle and and Maria Micciche and Robert and Jean Castro. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Couples Rickie and Beverly Slater, Daniel McNeil and Tara Kusak and Patkey and Judith Harris. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Jenni Doyle and Maria Micciche. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Flagler County Clerk of Court staff who made the wedding ceremony possible: Dana MacDonald, Ashley Eddy, Stephanie Tolson, Clerk of Court Tom Bexley, Sydney Stachurski, Nihole Buckles and Toni Hollingsworth. Photo by Brent Woronoff

A Flagler Youth Orchestra string quartet played at the Valentine's Day wedding ceremony on the Flagler County Courthouse steps on Feb. 14, 2023. From left, Jack Lisenby, Gabriella Williams, Austin Williams and FYO artistic director Joe Corporon. File photo by Brent Woronoff

The Flagler Youth Orchestra string quartet played at the wedding ceremony on the Courthouse steps. Students: Jack Lisenby, Gabriella Williams, Austin Williams. Teachers: Joe Corporon (FYO's artistic director) and Victor Rivera. Photo by Brent Woronoff

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Flagler County Clerk of the Court Tom Bexley knew the pandemic was hard on his own marriage.

Surviving hard times was the theme of his speech to the six couples who got married on the Flagler County courthouse steps on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.

Bexley has been presiding over the mass wedding ceremony since 2018. But this year’s affair, under a brilliant blue sky, was the first since 2020. The event was canceled the past two years because of Covid-19.

Bexley said normally his speech is all sunshine and flowers and rainbows. This year, he told the couples that marriage is not easy.

“A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment that is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others and it is entered into the desired hope that it will last forever,” Bexley said.

If you are having more good days than bad you are on the right path, he said.

During the pandemic, Bexley said, he and his wife explored what their new norm was, and at times it was difficult.

“You have to figure out what your path is going to be through the darkness,” he said after the ceremony. “We’re all coming out of a haze into a better day.”

He told the six couples, “The part that gives me hope is the fact that you are standing before me and all of us, the fact that you met each other during a recession and a plague, became friends and lovers and are now about to the take the leap and pledge yourselves to one another for life.”

Before the six couples were united in matrimony, seven married couples renewed their vows on the courthouse lawn.

Roberto and Jean Lopez got married in the mass ceremony. They have been together for five years.

We love each other very much. Finally, we’re married, and we’ll be together for the rest of our lives. — Roberto Lopez

“We love each other very much,” Roberto said. “Finally, we’re married, and we’ll be together for the rest of our lives.”

Mark and Alexandra Castro and their family dressed in shades of purple. Even Alexandra’s hair was violet. They met three years ago on Valentine’s Day.

“It’s our anniversary,” they said.

It will be forever.

It is not unusual for clerks of the court to perform mass wedding ceremonies, Bexley said, since they are the ones who issue marriage licenses.

Bexley’s staff has made it a mission to make the event a beautiful affair, providing gift bags to couples and refreshments after the ceremony.

The records department receives the applications and processes and issues the licenses, The IT department creates decorative certificates.

“Everybody’s involved,” Bexley said.

They don’t use any public funds on the event, Bexley added. The staffers spend their own time and money to make the Valentine’s Day ceremony as memorable as any wedding should be.

“When we started this, it spoke to Toni Hollingworth (a deputy clerk in the finance division),” Bexley said. “All year long, she sees items that look nice, and she picks it up for the gift bags.”

The other couples who were married in the ceremony were Rickie and Beverly Slater, Patkey and Judith Harris, Jenni Doyle and Maria Micciche and Daniel MacNeil and Tara Kusak.

At its peak, the Valentine’s Day ceremony included over 20 couples, Bexley said. But after two years’ off, the office has to work harder to get the word out, he said.

“Every year, we want to make it more elaborate,” Bexley said.

“Please turn and face the crowd,” Bexley told the couples at the end of the ceremony. “I’m excited to present Flagler County’s newest married couples and partners for life. It has been a privilege and honor for me to preside over this ceremony today.”