Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Prop. 8 decision, same-sex marriage advocates expected a 25-day delay before such marriages could resume in California. That changed abruptly last Friday, when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court lifted a stay to allow counties to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

West Hollywood City Councilman John Heilman (left) smiles after marrying West Hollywood residents Barbara Stones and Sharon Kidd on Monday in the plaza outside council chambers. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

Over the weekend, city of West Hollywood staff members scrambled to organize an event to offer free ceremonies to any couple looking to wed. On Monday, the effort culminated in a joyous, historic occasion.

“I’m very, very, very happy,” Mayor Abbe Land said. “My face hurts from smiling so much this last week. It’s a great day.”

Four decorated awnings were placed in the plaza between the city council chambers and the West Hollywood Library. A fifth area was arranged inside the council chambers. A shuttle took couples to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office in Beverly Hills for marriage licenses.

“We know that a lot of people have been waiting for this moment, so we wanted to make it as easy as possible,” Land said. “It’s a privilege to be able to do this for the couples that are going to come before us today.”

Prior to the ceremonies, all five city council members were deputized inside council chambers by county recorder-registrar Dean Logan, who finished the swearing-in ceremony by saying, “Congratulations and marry on.”

Just after he uttered those words, a woman in the audience stood and voiced her Prop. 8 support. She was eventually escorted outside by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies.

“What about the votes of the people of California who voted twice? What about the people of California who went to the polls and voted twice? What about them? Don’t we have a voice? Jesus Christ is not pleased. …Shame on the Supreme Court,” the unidentified woman said.

As a throng of reporters followed the woman and officers outside, the focus returned to the task at hand. Andrea and Sallee Taylor, of South Pasadena, was the first couple to wed in West Hollywood following the repeal of Prop. 8. Together for two years, the couple had already been married in Washington state.

“We’re very excited,” Sallee said. “We want to get married in every state, and then other countries.”

Barbara Stones and Sharon Kidd, of West Hollywood, had been together for 20 years. Councilman John Heilman presided over their nuptials.

“I think as fifty years as an activist and trying really, really hard to make sure our community gets everything it should have, this is sort of the culmination of all of that,” Kidd said. “It’s overdue, and it’s overwhelming that it actually happened.”

She joked that the couple did not go out and celebrate the Prop. 8 ruling because “we’re old.” Kidd said it took her some time to actually believe that same-sex marriage was again legal in California. When asked if it feels real now, she said, “It’s really real now.”

Heilman said he was pleased to conduct their ceremony, as well as several others on Monday.

“It’s really exciting to be a part of it, and to play a role in helping them get married is great,” he said.

Councilman John D’Amico agreed. He was not on the council in 2008, when same-sex marriages were briefly legal, but he and husband, Keith, were among several couples to get married during that small window.

“It’s a great day,” D’Amico said, encouraging couples to visit West Hollywood to “get hitched” and return to their happy lives. “I think everything we’re doing today in West Hollywood is consistent with who we are as a city, what the community expects of us and what we can do for the nation.”

In 2008, Councilman John Duran presided over approximately 100 weddings. He noted that the ceremonies were a little different this time around.

“Well, this is really beautiful. …This time it feels different because we don’t have the threat of Prop. 8 looming on the horizon,” Duran said, adding that 2008 “felt like a rush.”

He said some of the couples getting married on Monday had been together for 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years.

“So when I get to the part, ‘Do you promise to love one another in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health’ — all the traditional vows — they’ve already done it,” Duran said. “They’ve already proven commitment without having to take a vow. It’s so beautiful to see all these couples that have already fulfilled the terms of marriage finally have the state recognize their relationship.”

Councilman Jeff Prang was stationed inside council chambers, where he’d just finished marrying two young men.

“It’s really awesome,” he said. “It brings a lot of joy to the heart, you know?”

Prang said he was pleased to help facilitate the ceremonies.

“It’s so important to people,” he said. “It’s been a battle that’s been going on for so long. …It’s a very special moment — to share a few minutes with these couples.”

Prang said all of the couples will now have access to all state and federal benefits, and the only way to make same-sex marriage illegal again would be for the voters to amend the U.S. Constitution.

“It’s done. …Where the public is today, that’s an impossibility,” he added. “We are done. The fat lady has sung.”

City clerk Corey Schaffer said his office and the county offices had been “incredibly busy.” He said approximately 30 couples had utilized the shuttle to Beverly Hills, and approximately 50 couples were expected to wed on Monday.

“We’ve had a tremendous turnout, and people are really excited,” Schaffer said. “Everything’s happened so fast. …But we as a city knew we had to put together an event, and the entire city hall was working all weekend to put this together, and we’re excited as can be.”

Monday’s event was so successful that the city opted to host free ceremonies on Tuesday as well. Couples will still have an opportunity to get married by West Hollywood officials and staff, but they must make an appointment at the Beverly Hills courthouse.

The ceremonies will be held on Thursdays at Kings Road Park, 1000 N. Kings Road. Schaffer advised interested residents to visit www.weho.org/marriage or call the city’s marriage hotline at (323)848-6869. He agreed that Monday was a “great day,” but then corrected himself by adding, “the best day.”