Only In Polk: Florida daylight savings time uncertainty leaves wedding time in limbo

Editor's note: Only in Polk is a new series in The Ledger where we find answers to readers' questions that come from life in Polk County.

BARTOW — Florida lawmakers' attempt to make daylight savings time year-round in the Sunshine State has created a complication for one Bartow couple who want a sunset for the backdrop of their upcoming nuptials.

Marie Moore and Joel Hile, both in their mid-50s, are set to get married on Nov. 10 at Allen Barn in Fort Meade.

“We put on the invitations between 5 and 11 (p.m.),” Moore said. “We want to have the ceremony at the actual sunset. That will change, of course, depending on daylight savings time.”

In March, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a law putting Florida into the adjusted time, but not until the U.S. Congress OK's the change. Time zones remain the purview of the federal government. But Scott and the overwhelming majority of state legislators who approved the change this year have some interested legislators lending a hand in Washington.

Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Vern Buchanan have filed a combination of four bills to allow the change. Reps. Darren Soto, Ted Yoho and Carlos Curbelo have co-sponsored one of Buchanan's bills. The bills have all been referred to committee discussions but it's not clear if this topic will come up before the joining of Moore and Hile.

“We have a lot of ownership on this topic,” said Oriana Pina, a spokeswoman for Soto. “The congressman has been pushing for this for years since he was in the Florida House (of Representatives).”

Pina said Soto is a supporter of year-round daylight savings time for many reasons, noting that it will be a plus for business and tourism in the Sunshine State. Congress is in recess until September.

Moore said it's been tough to find an answer to her question and contacted The Ledger through its "Only in Polk" series.

“I haven't been able to find out anything from anybody,” Moore said. “It's just so frustrating not knowing.”

While the movements of Capitol Hill is far less regular than the setting of the sun, it's worth noting there is a good reason for the meaning of the idiom, "It'll take an act of Congress."

Their best bet, it seems, will be to plan their wedding as if nothing will change. Though Florida's government is eager to embrace permanent daylight savings time, they shouldn't expect the U.S. Congress to take the next step before their big day.

As clocks are scheduled to be set back at 2 a.m. on Nov. 4., Pina said it's unlikely that anything will change before Moore and Hile's wedding date.

“I think it's unrealistic to think that it'll be passed by November, but you never know,” Pina said.

As for the happy couple, they've been together for about three years after meeting on eHarmony. Moore works in the information technology department with Polk County Schools. Hile is retired.

“We're combining two families,” Moore said. “We'll have seven children between us and three grandchildren. We're calling ourselves the Brady Bunch, plus one.”

Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-802-7445. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

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