• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Flagler Clerk of Court Will Hold Mass Wedding Ceremony on Valentine’s Day in New Tradition

December 12, 2017 | FlaglerLive | 17 Comments

A new ring to the oldest tradition: Tom Bexley, Flagler County's clerk of court, will begin holding Valentine's Day marriage ceremonies on the courthouse steps every February 14. (Sarah Miller)
A new ring to the oldest tradition: Tom Bexley, Flagler County’s clerk of court, will begin holding Valentine’s Day marriage ceremonies on the courthouse steps every February 14. (Sarah Miller)

Come noon this Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, the oldest tradition in human societies will get a new ring on the steps of the Flagler County courthouse, where Clerk of Court Tom Bexley will lead a mass marriage ceremony for all willing couples who’d have applied for a license between Dec. 18 and Feb. 9.


Bexley intends to make the annual Valentine’s Day marriages a new local tradition.

“There’s a number of other state offices in Florida that do that, it’s good for public relations, it teaches people a little but about what we do,” Bexley said. “It feels good. It’s a good community service thing.”

It is also a chance to lend the courthouse a less austere feel, considering that most people who go there do so for less auspicious circumstances–and some walk in only to walk out a different door, to jail and to prison.

Marriage is rich with its own jingles of balls and chains, but not usually in its more delirious early stages, particularly when courthouse ceremonies have the added advantage of sparing the couple the need to negotiate family politics, location hassles and costs. In this case, couples will also get to save $30, a local fee that Bexley will waive and that usually applies for the performing of a ceremony, in addition to the state’s $86 marriage license fee, which can’t be waived. (It was previously reported as $94.50, but the state recently decreased the fee.)

The ceremony will take place on the steps of the Kim Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell, with Bexley officiating and delivering a wedding-day sermon of sorts. “That’s part of the deal,” he said. “If these folks are going to take part in this ceremony they’re going to have to listen to my words of wisdom, however wise they turn out to be.”

Flagler County Clerk of Court Tom Bexley will perform the Valentine's Day marriage ceremony. (c FlaglerLive)
Flagler County Clerk of Court Tom Bexley will perform the Valentine’s Day marriage ceremony. (c FlaglerLive)
And yes, the ceremony is open to all denominations, all dispositions, all orientations. “Same sex marriages, absolutely,” Bexley said, noting that while some clerk’s offices in the state have chosen to stop performing marriage ceremonies in order not to have to perform same-sex ceremonies, Flagler began issuing licenses–and performing ceremonies–to same-sex couples as soon as it became legal to do so, starting in January 2015. “Come one, come all,” Bexley said.

That also includes couples who would like to more ceremonially renew their marriage vows. No applications necessary in that case.

The ceremony will include refreshments and live music. Guests are welcome.

The clerk’s office routinely issues marriage licenses but also regularly performs ceremonies, with any of the clerk’s deputies officiating. It performed 103 in the past year alone. There’s a small chapel often used to that end near the clerk’s recording office at the courthouse.

In order to be eligible to register for the Valentine’s Day ceremony, application for marriage licenses must be made between December 18th 2017 and February 9th 2018. Couples will receive a special official Certificate of Marriage commemorating the special day. The certificates will be mailed within one week from the date of the ceremony.

For more information, contact the Recording Department, 386-313-4360, Kim C. Hammond Justice Center, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell, Florida. Details are also available at www.flaglerclerk.com.

Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linze says

    December 12, 2017 at 2:10 pm

    County can’t think of any more ways to waste taxpayers money

  2. rst says

    December 12, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Good job Tom; keep up the good work…

  3. Anonymous says

    December 12, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    When are you going to hold the mass divorce session since so many marriages end in divorce? There ought to be a time of year when fees are waived for divorce…..no better time than New Years Eve…..that would put a good start to a New Year for lots of couples.

  4. Terminus says

    December 12, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    And mass annulments on Feb 15. Fun.

  5. BlueJammer says

    December 12, 2017 at 5:56 pm

    That is great news! Thank you, Tom Bexley!

  6. Anonymous says

    December 12, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    Are Gay marriages included in this mass ceremony?

  7. Yourstruly says

    December 12, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Sure, let’s attract more crap, cause there’s not enough crime and transients in the County! Smh

  8. AM says

    December 13, 2017 at 9:19 am

    “And yes, the ceremony is open to all denominations, all dispositions, all orientations. “Same sex marriages, absolutely,” Bexley said, noting that while some clerk’s offices in the state have chosen to stop performing marriage ceremonies in order not to have to perform same-sex ceremonies, Flagler began issuing licenses–and performing ceremonies–to same-sex couples as soon as it became legal to do so, starting in January 2015. “Come one, come all,” Bexley said.”

  9. Katie Semore says

    December 13, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    @linze, how is this wasting taxpayer’s monies? The couples will have to apply for and pay for the marriage license with only the $30 fee that is normally charged to get married at city hall waived. There is no indication that these couples would get married at city hall were it not for this particular ceremony so there is no way to calculate whether $30 per couple is loss to the county or not, but I would venture to say that those $30 waived fees are worth much more in good will and returns a value to the taxpayer for taxes paid should they wish to take advantage of it. The officiant is on-the-clock whether he is doing this or taking a coffee break or answering a phone call. It also frees him or other personnel from conducting many ceremonies to conducting one to take care of other tasks. Why the disgruntled attitude?

  10. rst says

    December 13, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    @Anonymous, why wouldn’t gay marriages be included in this “mass ceremony”? It’s the law…

  11. Anonymous says

    December 13, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    rst–read what AM posted. Maybe our taxes will go down if enough people get married. The tax refunds may decrease and the courts are to gain lots of money when they file for divorce-not to mention what they are to gain on the purchasing of marriage licenses. All sinners….now is your time.

  12. Bill and Carol Bexley says

    December 13, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    Tom,
    Great idea. Your Mom and I are very proud of you. Oh, put us on the list to renew our vows. Interesting
    your son marrying his Mom and Dad after 50 years of marriage.

  13. Linzey Chaffin says

    December 13, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    Oh if 10 couples show up at $30.00 each is $300.00
    That’s more than I make a week
    Political waste

  14. FlaglerLive says

    December 13, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Linzey, the fee is being waived, not assessed.

  15. Anonymous says

    December 13, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    Will they all honeymoon together? Swip Swap is real popular around here I hear.

  16. Katie Semore says

    December 14, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    $300 is only a tiny little drop in the bucket to the county office even though it is a significant amount to someone who earns less than $300 a week. It will be a great opportunity for those folks to save a big chunk of their income and do something that they otherwise can’t afford. It is the same as using national parks and forests. Taxpayers reaping a benefit for their taxes paid.

  17. Carol Ogden says

    December 18, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    Love this. A fun and user friendly approach to doing his job. Fresh thinking and better yet, Mr. Bexley brings some personality and a positive vibe to our community government services. This helps build working relationships between officials and residents. Happy Valentines Day in advance.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • FlaglerLive on John Thrasher, Who’d Represented Flagler County in the Senate and Led FSU, Dies at 81
  • FlaglerLive on ICE Arrests More Than 100 in Raid of Construction Site Near FSU
  • Pierre Tristam on Israel’s Catastrophic Starvation of Gaza’s Millions
  • Ann Walton on Flagler Beach Secures All FEMA Funds for New Pier, Construction of $14 Million Replacement Begins June 16
  • Mort on Answering Lawsuit, Palm Coast Accuses Mayor Norris of Frivolously Weaponizing Court Against Gambaro’s Legitimacy
  • Old Rumrunner on Sales Tax Cut Appears Dead as House and Senate Leaders Agree to More Limited Exemptions
  • Hazel the maid on Israel’s Catastrophic Starvation of Gaza’s Millions
  • Wow on Palm Coast Man, 55, Arrested on Felony Animal Cruelty Charge for Asphyxiating Dog That Attacked His Chihuahua
  • Dog Choke on Palm Coast Man, 55, Arrested on Felony Animal Cruelty Charge for Asphyxiating Dog That Attacked His Chihuahua
  • Ed P on ICE Arrests More Than 100 in Raid of Construction Site Near FSU
  • Joe D on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, May 31, 2025
  • Gary on Palm Coast Man, 55, Arrested on Felony Animal Cruelty Charge for Asphyxiating Dog That Attacked His Chihuahua
  • Sherry on Why the Far Right Fabricated the Myth of a Migrant ‘Invasion’
  • William Moya on Local Police Collaboration With ICE Undermines Public Safety
  • Marek on Local Police Collaboration With ICE Undermines Public Safety
  • Pogo on Local Police Collaboration With ICE Undermines Public Safety

Log in