Congratulations! First same-sex couples marry in Florida

The first same-sex couples have married in Miami-Dade County, Florida, ahead of a legal deadline bringing equal marriage across the state.

Couples began marrying in Miami Dade county this afternoon, after a ruling only applying to that county took effect there.

A short-notice ruling by Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel means same-sex couples in the county could immediately marry – just hours before equality was set to take effect across the state, at midnight.

Karla Arguello and Cathy Pareto were the first couple to marry in the county after Miami-Dade County Clerk Harvey Ruvin began issuing licenses at 2pm.

Jeff and Todd Delmay become Florida’s second same-sex married couple, while Deborah Shure and Aymarah Robles – who attended the courtroom hearing where the judge lifted the stay – were also in line to marry.

Despite the ruling, couples in other counties will still have to wait until the stay expires at midnight – with further weddings set to take place across the state.

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