At 9:25 a.m. Saturday, two Ann Arbor women became the first gay couple to be legally married in Washtenaw County.

The couple—Elizabeth Patten, 52, and Johnnie Terry, 50—were the first in a line of more than 100 people Saturday that arrived well before the doors to the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office opened at 9 a.m.

Related: Clerk grants marriage licenses to 74 gay couples in Washtenaw County

U.S. 6th Circuit Judge Judith Levy officiated their marriage in a packed room in the basement of the clerk's office, surrounded by their family, gay couples, clergy and the media.

As soon as the doors opened Saturday the office in downtown Ann Arbor was overrun with hopeful couples—many bearing smiles, flowers, some with veils—looking to receive that hard-won paper document that would allow them to be legally married for the first time in Michigan.

After lobbying by community member led by Ann Arbor Downtown Development Association Chairwoman Sandi Smith, Washtenaw County officials decided late Friday night to open the doors of the clerk's office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman filed his ruling that declared Michigan's voter-approved gay marriage ban unconstitutional just after 5 p.m. Friday.

The move meant that couples like Patten and Terry, who had waited at the clerk's office Friday for a chance to get their marriage license, were turned away when the offices closed with their hopes dashed.

Though Friedman did not issue a stay order with his ruling, Attorney General Bill Schuette immediately filed an appeal to the lawsuit and requested Friday evening that a stay be issued.

Washtenaw County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum had prepared to open for business as usual at 8 a.m. Monday with marriage licenses for gay couples at the ready—but county officials were sympathetic and made an exception.

"We figured there would be a stay and people would want to get in as quickly as possible," said Washtenaw County Administrator Verna McDaniel, who visited the clerk's office about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to see the marriages in process.

Due to staffing levels, McDaniel said the clerk's office would likely only be able to process 60 marriage licenses Saturday, as each application for a license takes staff about 10 minutes to process.

"When you make decisions like this, it takes resources," McDaniel said.

Thomas Toon, 71, of Chelsea, left, puts a ring on the finger of British native Anthony Shakeshaft, 49, Saturday morning at the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office in downtown Ann Arbor.

About a dozen officiants set up shop in the basement of the clerk's office to perform weddings after the couples received their paperwork.

As there were far more than 60 couples present, officiants pledged to return to the clerk's office when the doors opened at 8 a.m. Monday.

By 9:37 a.m. Saturday, the second gay couple was wed: British native Anthony Shakeshaft, 49, and his partner of 22 years, Thomas Toon, 71, of Chelsea.

"I never slept last night," Shakeshaft said. "It has has more to do with what America represents to the rest of the world, because you're the land of the free and brave—and equality and liberty and justice ... to me what's been passed is more American that what went on before."

Saturday's ceremony was the fourth wedding for Shakeshaft and Toon. When Shakeshaft first came to the U.S. the couple had a domestic partnership, then a civil union in England, then a Buddhist ceremony.

Anne Callison, 37, and Kelly Callison, 34, both of Ann Arbor arrived at the clerk's office at 6 a.m. Saturday. They met through mutual friends at the Aut Bar five years ago.

Anne has borne a son that is biologically Kelly's—but state law up until now has meant that Kelly couldn't adopt her son.

The couple waited for Michigan's law to change to get married, Anne Callision. Getting their license Saturday was crucial, Kelly Callison said, noting she didn't want to risk waiting until Monday, should a stay on Friedman's ruling be issued.

For Chelsie Plotner, 29, and Dana Myers, 28, both of Ann Arbor, Saturday won't be their first wedding either.

The couple, who were number 30 in line, met at Western Michigan University where they were both attending college. It was "love at first sight" for Myers, Plotner said—and the two knew they were in love within two weeks.

Last July the couple got married, unofficially, with a ceremony and big white dresses. The marriage license gives the couple the validity in the eyes of the state that they want for their future.

"It gives us the rest of the benefits," Plotner said. "When we decide to have kids, it will make it so we can both legally be parents of our children."

It was important for the couple to get their marriage license in the narrow window of legality Saturday as next weeks brings uncertainties they don't want to risk.

"We knew that we had to get in here today because we don't know what's going to be in our future for this upcoming week, if they're going to do the stay or not," Myers said.

Amy Biolchini is the K-12 education reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at amybiolchini@mlive.com, (734) 623-2552 or on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County K-12 education stories on MLive.com.