Richard Parks/The Bay Citizen

Maria Ydil and Vannessa Judicpa speak to reporters at City Hall Aug. 4, 2010

It wasn’t the wedding they had planned.

Maria Ydil and Vannessa Judicpa joined a crowd of same-sex marriage supporters in front of the federal courthouse in San Francisco Wednesday to await a ruling on Prop. 8, holding hands in hopes that their marriage — planned for next week in South San Francisco — might be legal.

But they didn’t make it until next week.

With the news that California's same-sex marriage ban had been overturned, a crowd gathered around the couple, bursting into renditions of “We Shall Overcome” and “This Land is Your Land.” Within minutes, Ydil and Judicpa were marching to nearby City Hall to seek a marriage license, as the crowd cheered them on. 

“God has good timing,” Judicpa said as she walked with her bride-to-be through City Hall, where they began filling out the paperwork for a legal marriage.

But it wasn’t to be.

Before the couple could receive a marriage license, news came that U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker had granted a temporary stay requested by Prop. 8 supporters, blocking same-sex weddings.

Eric Arnold

Same-sex couples attempted to get married after Judge Walker's ruling Aug. 4, 2010

Nonetheless, Ydil and Judicpa received an emotional blessing at City Hall from the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, a priest in a rainbow stole, while surrounded by dozens of same-sex marriage advocates and supporters who called theirs a “marriage of the heart.”

“We weren’t expecting it to be this awesome,” Ydil said after the ceremony. “We wanted to let people know our story—that no matter what happened we were going to get married.”

Like other same-sex marriage supporters, the couple called the ruling a victory for their community.

“It’s just a delay,” said Judicpa of the stay.

“I’m so grateful to have been able to witness this,” said a teary-eyed Jason Galisatus, a friend of the couple's.

Another couple, from Fairfield, also failed to get a marriage a license but received a blessing from Rev. Stringfellow. Teresa Rowe said she and her partner had been waiting for five years to wed.

“We’re already married in our hearts,” Rowe said, holding her partner, Kristin Orbin.

Outside City Hall, supporters brandishing signs and flags gathered in anticipation of an evening rally, and cheered at passing cars, which honked in solidarity.

“Welcome to San Francisco, tourists!” one supporter yelled at a double-decker tour bus. “It’s a good day to be here!”