Since obtaining her notary license last April, Lizzy Havens has yet to use her services to officiate weddings. She wanted to change that Jan. 6.
“I’ve always wanted to marry a couple and I couldn’t think of a better time than today,” she said. “It’s a little way for me to be a good citizen to other good citizens in the area.”
The self-proclaimed "sap" decided she would give free wedding ceremonies to same-sex couples obtaining marriage licenses in Santa Rosa County, where she grew up. Havens now lives in Pensacola.
Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court Donald Spencer was one of the first of now a handful of Florida counties to announce the end of courthouse weddings. Okaloosa and Walton Counties have also stopped wedding ceremonies.
As a licensed notary, Havens could charge around $20 for her services, but wanted to show her support to the LGBT community on this landmark day for Florida.
Standing outside the Milton courthouse, holding a bright green sign, she didn’t see a whole lot of action, but was greeted with a few waves by passersby.
“I hope to share the message that there’s a lot of hate in this world, but there’s a lot of love too,” she said. “I love love. It’s about time Florida got it right.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Jennie McKeon at 850-315-4432 or jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieMnwfdn.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Woman offers free wedding ceremony to couples outside Milton Courthouse