Compiled by Daniel Hicks

A white cake, white dresses and white flowers were all donated for the big event — a mass wedding at Orlando City Hall for same-sex couples ready to exchange rings and vows of matrimony for the first time in state history.

Mayor Buddy Dyer was on hand this morning to officiate the ceremony and sign newly issued marriage licenses in front of more than 200 people celebrating the first day same-sex marriage became legal in Florida.

“It’s exactly the right thing to do on so many levels,” Dyer said. “We are the 36th state, a little behind the times, in fact, to recognize marriage equality. Times have changed, just as they have changed over the history of time in civil rights issues. I think it’s important today we recognize marriage equality in the state and in our city.”

Some of the 44 couples in attendance had been together almost as long.

“We never thought or dreamed this would happen. It’s really hard to believe. It’s surreal,” said Jim Browne. Browne and his partner, Ken Wright, said they have been together for 41 years.

Carrie Shak and Melene Binau Bonner said they have waited three years for this day.

“This means the world to us. It’s not just a commitment to each other, but now it’s legally binding,” said Shak, who is American. Bonner is from Denmark.

“So this also means I get to stay, too, with Carrie in this country. That means we don’t have to be apart anymore,” said Bonner.

Orlando’s first openly gay city commissioner, Patty Sheehan, quoted the Bible, as this historical day was not completely free of controversy. A few protesters like Rev. Cliffton Dancy were on hand shouting and carrying signs.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails,” said Sheehan.

The official invite to the mass ceremony was missing the names of two commissioners: Jim Gray and Tony Ortiz.

Each of the seven members of the City Council were asked if they wanted their names listed as hosts, but Gray and Ortiz, the only two Republicans on the board, declined. Neither attended the ceremony.

“I was invited and I chose not to attend,” Gray said. “I don’t think it does me or anybody else any good to go into my views on it, because nobody cares. It’s a personal issue to everybody, wherever you fall on the spectrum.”

A reception inside city hall followed the ceremony and signings. Another mass ceremony was scheduled for later that evening at The Center on Mills Avenue with Judge Bob Leblanc presiding.

Meanwhile, the Osceola County courthouse opened at midnight and issued marriage certificates and performed ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples for the first time.

Osceola County commissioner Cheryl Grieb and her partner Patricia Daugherty were the first same-sex couple in Central Florida to receive their marriage license after waiting 22 years.

“Our rights are protected and I think that’s the biggest thing that everyone has been fighting for all these years; just to have the same equal rights,” Grieb said.

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