- April 26, 2024
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Michele Burpeau and Silvio DiGregorio married 42 years ago on Valentine's Day, and renewed their vows at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Clerk of the Court Tom Bexley married four couples on Valentine's Day, and renewed the vows of a fifth couple. Photo by Sierra Williams
Roobens Cine and Tarra Elustin kiss after marrying at the courthouse Valentine's Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Clerk of the Court Tom Bexley officiated the ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Five couple came to the courthouse on Valentine's Day to be married or renew their vows. Photo by Sierra Williams
Couples Jerica Pitts and Malakhi Sanders and Roobens Cine and Tarra Elustin at the courthouse Valentine's Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Michele Burpeau and Silvio DiGregorio married 42 years ago on Valentine's Day, and renewed their vows at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Roobens Cine and Tarra Elustin kiss at the courthouse Valentine's Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Kathleen Steward and David Wright walk down the aisle at the Flagler County courthouse's annual Valentine's Day wedding ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jerica Pitts and Malakhi Sanders were married at the courthouse with three other couples on Valentine's Day. Photo by Sierra Williams
Austin Marques and Sarah Fultz were one of four couples married on Valentine's Day at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Michele Burpeau and Silvio DiGregorio married 42 years ago on Valentine's Day, and renewed their vows at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Roobens Cine and Tarra Elustin say their vows at the courthouse Valentine's Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jerica Pitts and Malakhi Sanders were married at the courthouse with three other couples on Valentine's Day. Photo by Sierra Williams
Austin Marques and Sarah Fultz were one of four couples married on Valentine's Day at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Kathleen Steward and David Wright got married at the county courthouse's annual Valentine's Day wedding ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Austin Marques and Sarah Fultz were one of four couples married on Valentine's Day at the courthouse. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jerica Pitts and Malakhi Sanders were married at the courthouse with three other couples on Valentine's Day. Photo by Sierra Williams
Kathleen Steward and David Wright got married at the county courthouse's annual Valentine's Day wedding ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jerica Pitts and Malakhi Sanders kiss at the end of ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Couples Kathleen Stewart and David Wright and Austin Marques and Sarah Fultz celebrate being married. Photo by Sierra Williams
The courthouse provided heart-shaped doughnuts, cupcakes and candies for after the ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
A staff member provided gifts for the couples. Photo by Sierra Williams
Four couples were married and a fifth renewed their vows at Flagler County courthouse's annual Valentine's Day marriage ceremony.
The courthouse has continued its tradition of a mass-marriage ceremony for years, with Clerk of the Court Tom Bexley presiding over the ceremony since 2018. Aside from when the event was cancelled during the pandemic, Bexley said the courthouse will always continue the tradition, "in some form or other."
Bexley said his favorite part of the ceremony is the way everyone in his team gets into arranging the special day for the couples. The Valentine's Day ceremony was held indoors this year, but Bexley said his staff took the time to decorate the room and procure snacks and gifts, all at their own costs.
Employee Toni Hollingsworth arranged for the gifts herself, even with several couples showing up last minute. She said she picks out Mr.-and-Mrs. wedding gifts — one gift this year were matching couple aprons — to make sure each couple feels special.
"I wanted them to just get a little bit of a thank you from us for allowing us to marry them," she said. "it's just something to feel like home. Like maybe family is here for them."
The four couples who were married are: Kathleen Stewart and David Wright; Malakhi Sanders and Jerica Pitts; Austin Marques and Sarah Fultz; Roobens Cine and Tarra Elustin.
Fultz and Marques said they did not know about the special Valentine's Day ceremony until the two walking into the courthouse. They said they wanted Valentine's Day as their anniversary, but didn't want to wait until they were able to plan a larger ceremony.
Michele Burpeau and Silvio DiGregorio were the only couple renewing their vows, after 42 years of marriage. Valentine's Day is their actual anniversary, Burpeau said. Both proudly announced they had been been married 504 months — and counting, DiGregorio said.
Looking at Burpeau and DiGregorio, Bexley said, gives him hope for some of the old traditions of marriage.
"They took this time to come renew their vows [with us]," Bexley said. "That's pretty special stuff."
