Happy Couples Celebrate Love With Drive-Thru Weddings | NBC Nightly News

Summary

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, couples in Florida found creative ways to celebrate love by opting for socially distant drive-through weddings. With marriage licenses set to expire, the Gainesville Clerk repurposed the courthouse drive-through window, allowing 46 couples to marry in an unexpected yet joyful way. For many, this unconventional ceremony was the perfect solution, offering both a symbol of resilience and love during challenging times. Couples, including those like Justin and Joanne Waters, were eager to marry without delay, reflecting the uniqueness and deep meaning of their vows during a global crisis.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dozens of couples decided to get married during the coronavirus pandemic, opting for drive-thru weddings instead of waiting for a traditional ceremony.
• 😀 The drive-thru weddings were held at a repurposed courthouse drive-through window in Gainesville, Florida, after 20 years of being closed.
• 😀 The idea for the drive-thru weddings came from a local clerk who wanted to help couples whose marriage licenses were set to expire.
• 😀 Over 46 couples participated in these socially distant weddings, which provided an unconventional yet meaningful way to celebrate love during the pandemic.
• 😀 Some couples were originally planning their weddings for later in the year but were unsure when they could hold their ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• 😀 Justin and Joanne Waters were among the couples who got married at the courthouse where they first met, though their dream wedding in Charleston was postponed until next year.
• 😀 Despite the unusual setting, many couples expressed joy and excitement, with some even driving in convertibles for their drive-thru ceremony.
• 😀 For some, the drive-thru wedding felt fitting to their relationship, as it symbolized adapting to unexpected challenges.
• 😀 Promises of love in sickness and health took on even greater significance for these couples, given the context of the ongoing global pandemic.
• 😀 The creativity of the drive-thru wedding concept provided couples a unique opportunity to celebrate their love while adhering to health and safety measures.

Q & A

What was the main reason couples decided to marry during the coronavirus pandemic?

Couples decided to marry during the coronavirus pandemic due to the expiration of their marriage licenses and the uncertainty about when they could have a traditional wedding.

How did the Gainesville Clerk help couples get married during the pandemic?

The Gainesville Clerk reopened and repurposed the courthouse drive-through window after 20 years, allowing couples to marry in a socially distant manner.

How many couples participated in the drive-through weddings in Gainesville?

A total of 46 couples participated in the socially distant drive-through weddings in Gainesville.

What was the original plan for Justin and Joanne Waters' wedding before the pandemic?

Justin and Joanne Waters had originally planned to get married in April in Charleston, but their dream wedding was postponed until next year due to the pandemic.

Why did some couples find the drive-through wedding particularly fitting?

Some couples found the drive-through wedding fitting because it reflected the unconventional circumstances of the pandemic, which mirrored the unique nature of their relationships.

What kind of ceremony did couples experience during the drive-through weddings?

Couples experienced a simple but meaningful ceremony where they exchanged vows and were pronounced husband and wife, all while maintaining social distancing.

What was the significance of the couples promising to love in sickness and in health during the pandemic?

The promise to love in sickness and in health took on even more significance during the pandemic, as it represented a commitment to support each other through uncertain and challenging times.

What role did the expiration of marriage licenses play in the decision to have drive-through weddings?

The expiration of marriage licenses motivated many couples to seek alternative ways to marry, as they wanted to avoid losing the validity of their licenses while the pandemic delayed traditional weddings.

How did the drive-through weddings reflect the creativity and adaptability of the community during the pandemic?

The drive-through weddings showcased the community's creativity and adaptability, turning an ordinary courthouse drive-through into a unique venue for couples to marry during a global crisis.

What challenges did couples face in planning their weddings during the pandemic?

Couples faced challenges such as uncertainty over when they could have a traditional wedding, the expiration of marriage licenses, and the need to adapt to social distancing and pandemic-related restrictions.