Last week on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, an estimated 400 couples renewed their vows as the sun set on Siesta Key. 300 couples registered for the romantic event held by Sarasota County, but the coordinator Jennifer Groff estimated that at least 100 more arrived last last-minute and were welcomed to join for the ceremony and cupcakes. Surrounded by glossy heart-shaped balloons and a rainbow of roses, with the Gulf of Mexico as a backdrop, those 400 couples renewed their vows and re-promised themselves to each other in a massive ceremony.
“It’s just like a wedding, they say their vows and they kiss,” said Groff. With couples ranging from essentially newlywed with 3-months marriages to couples in their 75th year of wedded bliss, the event was a testament to romance and the sappy romantic in all of us.
“Here’s someone at the end of their journey, and here’s someone at the beginning,” said Groff, “and they’re equally in love.”