Over 40 couples celebrated Valentines Day down the aisle

Reporter: Haley Zarcone
Published: Updated:
Wedding Cake
Wedding cake for the newlyweds from Seed to Table.

Wednesday morning, over 40 couples celebrated Valentine’s Day by walking down the aisle, and for many, it wasn’t their first time.

For four years, the Collier County Circuit Court has held its Wedding and Vow Renewal Ceremony. This year, their ceremony was held at Baker Park in Naples.

For the newlyweds—they walked down the aisle together, couple by couple. Then they all circled around Collier County Clerk Crystal K. Kinzel as she read their vows.

Each person read their vows allowed for the crowd, and within minutes, dozens were pronounced married.

Rob and Melissa Hinton met just six months ago after they both moved to Southwest Florida. In January, Rob proposed to Melissa and they began wedding planning.

The Hinton’s told Wink News when they heard of this Collier County event – they knew they had to tie the knot there today.

“We’re soaking it all in on this beautiful day. I mean, it’s the perfect temperature, perfect weather. Everybody’s so happy and smiling. The wonderful county of Collier County puts together along with the city of Naples and its wonderful sponsors couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day” says the Hinton’s.

Newly wed couple
Rob and Melissa Hinton having their first dance at Bakers Park in Naples.

The next portion of the ceremony was for vow renewals. They too, walked down the aisle hand in hand. Then their vows were re-read, and they shared the first kiss of their renewed love!

Wink News spoke to two couples who celebrated over 60 years of marriage this Valentine’s Day. They shared their secrets to a long-lasting love.

Bill and Lynda Ansliew, who have been together for 63 years, said, “Always listening to her, communicating, taking vacations, and trust. Just loving each other. Doing it day by day.”

Celebrating 60 years together this Valentine’s Day, Jerry Vaughan says his advice for fellow couples was given to him a long time ago.

“My father told me when I first got married. He said when you have an argument, you sit down with your wife. Talk it over, and you do it her way.”

Anslie Couple
The Anslie’s after renewing their vows for their 63 year wedding anniversary. They are joined by one of their daughters.

Some couples don’t see renewing their vows as a one-time thing. Kinzel, with the Collier County Clerk of Court, says they have couples come year after year.

David Nemitz and his wife have renewed their vows 11 times. As an inside joke to the two of them, this tradition keeps their marriage alive.

“One of the things that we do every single Sunday is we have something called a marriage meeting. And so it’s very simple. We have a list of everything that we’re grateful for, for that particular week, for that particular month, or what’s been going on for us. Then, we discuss things that are challenging or things that are going well. Sometimes it ends up very romantically; sometimes we end up not talking to each other for a little while” says Nemitz.

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