Same-sex marriage in Virginia could begin on Aug. 20, after an appeals court refused to delay its decision that would strike down the state's marriage ban Wednesday.

A county clerk in northern Virginia had requested the delay of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. The delay was requested in order to wait on the review of the U.S. Supreme Court, but the court denied the request and did not give a reason, according to The Associated Press and WJLA ABC 7.

That clerk was Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Michèle McQuigg, who can still ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case and stay the decision, according to USA Today.

"If the Supreme Court of the United States does not intervene, the 4th Circuit decision stands and Arlington would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday," Arlington County Clerk of the Circuit Court Paul Ferguson told ARLnow.com Wednesday.

Also appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court for review is a state attorney, Mark Herring, who asked the court last week to review the case and is on the side of marriage equality, reports USA Today.

The Office of the Attorney General told USA Today, "Herring is the first state attorney general to successfully argue in court at the district and appellate levels that a state marriage ban is unconstitutional, and the first who supports marriage equality to petition the Supreme Court for review."

A pro-equality organization, Equality Virginia, said in a statement: "There is no doubt that Virginia is ready for the freedom to marry. ... We are thrilled that the 4th Circuit denied the request for a stay and hope that we will see wedding celebrations in Virginia as early as next week. Marriage validates the commitment couples make to one another and, if the Supreme Court doesn't intervene, achieving marriage equality in Virginia will be a tremendous step forward."

The appeals court rendered its decision -- that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional -- in July.