The Mayor of Carrboro and her longtime partner were first in the line of same-sex-couples that showed up at the Orange County Deeds office Monday for marriage licenses.

“We had to say this: ‘There is no legal impediment to our marriage,’” Alicia Stemper shared with a small group of cheering supporters as she and her partner, Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle, walked back into the lobby of the Orange County Register of Deeds office with their 16-year-old son Avery Stemper.

The family arrived at around 7:45 a.m., and the office opened at 8.

The initial Monday-morning rush of same-sex couples getting marriage licenses was expected. On Friday, District Court Judge Max Cogburn in Asheville struck down Amendment One, and made same-sex marriage legal in North Carolina at around 5:30 p.m., a half hour after the Orange County office had closed.

By 10 a.m. Monday, nine gay and lesbian Orange County couples had gotten their licenses. It was an emotional day for some, including Stemper, whose hand trembled as she held the paper.

“I’m really happy, and I’m kind of overwhelmed,” said Stemper. “The emotion – it’s hard to prepare for. And it feels … like, I look at her face, and it’s… you know, reading that sentence, it really hit me anew.”

She and Lavelle have been together since 2003. They had a commitment ceremony at their home 10 years ago, attended by friends and family.

Lavelle said an October wedding is being planned.

“Plans are in the works for that right now,” said Lavelle. “We’re actually looking at Saturday, Oct. 25th. And you’ll hear more about it, probably shortly, because it’s something that we want to celebrate, really, with the community.”

Carrboro couple Lance Underwood and Mark Davis showed up wearing matching tuxedo hoodies. That’s because they intended to walk across the street to the courthouse right after they got the license.

“We’re just gonna, hopefully, walk across the street and make it happen,” said Underwood, “because we already had a real wedding with all our family and friends, you know, three-and-a-half years ago. So this is just about the paperwork and making it real.”

“Signing the deal,” Davis added.

Some local elected officials were at the deeds office, just to lend support and offer congratulations. One of them was Hillsborough Town Board member Jenn Weaver:

“It’s thrilling that Hillsborough is the county seat,” said Weaver. “This is one of those times where it’s just a wonderful place to feel proud about.”

And Chapel Hill Town Council member Lee Storrow:

“It’s a really exciting, historic day, and I wanted to be here to see the first couples come through.”

Register of Deeds Deborah Brooks lost her re-election bid in May to former Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton, in part, possibly, because she stated she would only issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if that was legal according to the state. Chilton said he would issue them immediately, regardless.

On Monday, as Brooks oversaw the smooth, orderly issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time in her office, she seemed as happy as anyone.

“I’m excited for them,” said Brooks. “As Register of Deeds, all I’m trying to do is follow the law. We’re ready to issue the license to everyone.”