Florida’s same-sex marriage ban ended across the state at midnight on Monday, and couples wasted no time exchanging vows. Several weddings took place and marriage licenses were issued early Tuesday morning.

But Miami Judge Sarah Zabel could not wait for the ban to expire. Zabel was the first to preside over a legally-recognized same-sex marriage ceremony on Monday afternoon. Karla Arguello and Catherina Pareto were the first same-sex couple to marry in Florida, and Pareto called it “sweet justice.” Zabel also married Jeff and Todd Delmay in her chambers in front of news media and supporters Monday.

Other counties joined in on the ceremonies after U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle’s ruling that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional went into effect in all 67 counties early Tuesday. Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb married her partner of 22 years, Patti Daugherty, at a courthouse just south of Orlando. “It’s been a long time coming,” Grieb said.

In Key West, Florida’s most southern tip, William Lee Jones and Aaron Huntsman were the first to read their vows in front of hundreds of people at the Monroe County Courthouse. Jones said he was “elated” and “overjoyed” that he is “legally recognized” with the man he has loved for 12 years.

Churches statewide held mass weddings Tuesday. And Mayor Buddy Dyer and Broward Clerk Howard Forman officiated mass weddings overnight at City Hall and Forman’s courthouse.

Reactions to the ending of the ban were positive in some areas, but the decision was not well-received statewide. Counties in northeast Florida shut down courthouse chapels. In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ronnie Fussell said there would be no marriage ceremonies–gay or straight.

John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy council, expressed his concerns with lifting the ban. He urged that America will awaken one day and realize that they only wanted two men to live together and not the “transformation of society.” Stemberger led the petition drive in 2008 to put a gay marriage ban back on the ballot.

Republican Jeb Bush, former Florida governor who opposed gay marriage, agreed to disagree Monday. He stated that “we are a democracy” and people should respect “the rule of law” despite their disagreements.

Bush urged people to respect “the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue.” He added that this includes those choosing to make lifelong commitments who are seeking “greater legal protection,” believe marriage is a “sacrament” and wish to “safeguard religious liberty.”

Florida, the third most populous state with 19.9 million people, is the 36th state to legalize same-sex marriage. According to The Associated Press, 70 percent of Americans live in states where same-sex couples can wed legally, which is a major change in national political terms.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is still pursuing appeals on state and federal levels to uphold the ban that voters approved in 2008. However, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected her efforts to postpone the weddings until the court’s final ruling. A spokeswoman for Bondi stated that she wishes “these couples the best.”

On Friday, U.S. Supreme Court justices will privately decide whether or not to rule on the merits of gay marriage during their term.