Florida Coronavirus Weddings: 'Hip, Hip Hooray For Love'

VENICE, FL — Love may still be in the air, but so is the coronavirus — which makes for irreconcilable differences between 0ver-the-top weddings and tales of happily ever after.

"People want to get married," said Sarasota County wedding officiant Avis Shiveler Brangan, who used Patch's small-business guide to let the community know she is still performing weddings amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"They are issuing marriage licenses, and someone has to conduct the ceremony," she said.

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A former postal worker, Brangan has been performing weddings since 1991, but the nuptials she performs these days through her Simple Seaside Ceremonies tend to be scaled-back affairs.

"Restaurants are out. Hotels are out. Parks and beaches are out," said Brangan, who works out of her Sarasota County home and meets couples by appointment only.

Love in the age of the new coronavirus has been playing out in Florida's backyards.

"We’re talking many times less than 10 people," she said. "Many weddings have only been two or three people. We’re talking small. We’re talking change of plans. We’re talking backyards."

Brangan said she observes social distancing guidelines. "I stay a distance away from them. They stay a distance from me," she said.

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She had five inquiries in just one afternoon recently. All of the couples had plans for a bigger wedding.

"Every wedding was a 'Plan B,'" Brangan said. "They were absolutely thrilled to death that they found somebody that was willing to help them."

One benefit is that couples can get more creative with their small services, according to Brangan, an ordained minister. One couple who lives in an apartment plans a personalized wedding in early May.

"They asked their apartment management if they could get married in the pond area of the apartment complex," Brangan said. "They plan to read each other a love letter during the ceremony."

Couples can have weddings in their own home or a private setting. "A private setting would be grandmother’s garden, Aunt Tillie’s back porch, their mother and dad’s dining room," she said.

Some couples plan to have a second wedding for family and friends once the health crisis passes.

Over the years, Brangan has worked with some 2,000 couples. She has always performed weddings that might be considered nontraditional, such as interfaith ceremonies.

"There’s always going to be a need for someone to conduct a wedding ceremony, but not everybody is willing to go to the bride and groom's house or to the grandmother’s garden," she said. "That’s where I come in."

Many of the couples who have opted for scaled-back coronavirus weddings already had their Florida marriage license, which is good for 60 days.

"I had a couple, a couple weeks ago. They had the date put on the inside of their wedding bands," Brangan said. "It was very important that they get married on that date, even if it was in their backyard."

Other couples have a sentimental reason for wanting to be married on a particular date. It could be the day they met or the day their parents married.

Despite the change of plans for many couples, some things haven't changed.

"They are very grateful that they can make part of their plans come true," Brangan said. "I’m sure they’re still going to wear a white dress. I’m sure they are still going to wear the wedding rings that they purchased. They may have to postpone their honeymoon, but they are still going to get a marriage license, and they are still going to be married."

Then there's the same tried-and-true happy ending to the wedding service.

"I always tell the bride and groom, 'Happy wedding day, and hip, hip hooray for love," Brangan said. "It makes them feel good, even if it’s only a couple people."