Melaine Fowler and Dion Parrish share a kiss after saying “I do” in a Valentine’s Day group wedding ceremony beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
Tiffany Tompkins
ttompkins@bradenton.com
Bradenton
Six couples formed a gently curving line beside Manatee County’s Historic Courthouse in downtown Bradenton on a sunny Valentine’s Day.
Well-wishers and onlookers smiled as the brides and grooms made a small procession to a white gazebo while a keyboardist played soft music at the Clerk’s Fourth Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding on Wednesday afternoon.
A man dressed in a top hat, black patent-leather shoes and a heart-shaped costume offered up Hershey’s kisses on a silver platter.
“Would you like a kiss,’ or a ‘kiss,’” said the man, who called himself “Joe” with a wink.
Angel Colonneso, Manatee County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, officiated from a small podium.
After the ceremony, couples received cupcakes, posed for photos and received good wishes.
Eleanor Craig, 79 and Norman Rondeau, 80, approach the pergola where six couples married in a wedding celebration beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Feb. 14, 2024. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
‘Joe Kisses’ greeted people attending a group wedding ceremony with Hershey’s kisses beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Feb. 14, 2024. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
Eleanor Craig, 79 clutches a small bouquet of flowers as she waits in a folding chair to marry Norman Rondeau, 80, in a wedding celebration beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Feb. 14, 2024. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
Maryse Mead and Randall Walker smile before getting married in a group ceremony on Valentine’s Day beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Feb. 14, 2024. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
Six couples were married in a ceremony by Clerk of the Court, Angel Colonnesso beside the Historic Manatee County Courthouse on Feb. 14, 2024. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
This story was originally published February 14, 2024 at 4:07 PM.
Tiffany Tompkins is the Bradenton Herald’s Visual Lead; shooting, editing and producing photographs and videos for the newspaper and online since 1999. Tiffany is a graduate of State College of Florida.
