In the heart of St. Louis, the courthouse doesn't just play host to the woes of legal battles—it also opens its doors to the beats of hearts ready to be entwined in matrimony. According to a piece by the St. Louis Circuit Court, Judge Wright recently transformed the usually solemn Ceremonial Courtroom into a venue where couples could exchange vows, celebrating more than a dozen unions last Friday.
Embracing a moment of levity in what can often be a place marked by strife and contention, Wright was quoted saying, "One of the worst things about being a judge is that everybody shows up on their worst day, but not today," in an article published by the St. Louis Circuit Court. "I love doing this. And I hope everyone lives happily ever after." Not usually the canvas for such scenes, the courthouse behind its stoic facade bore witness to declarations of love and new beginnings.
For those St. Louisans eager to be married before the year's close, there's good news. The service of courthouse marriages is extended to the public twice a month without a fee. As reported on the St. Louis Circuit Court official website, those looking to be joined in matrimony have one more shot for the year next Friday. The St. Louisans left behind the hassle of wedding planning, choosing the simplicity and significance of a courthouse ceremony instead.
Circuit Judge Calea Stovall-Reid will be the official presiding over the next Friday's ceremonies, ready to unite couples in the legally binding dance of marriage. Couples interested in taking part should mark their calendars and prepare to step into the historic Civil Courts Building, a place where the air is usually thick with legal jargon, to be filled instead with wedding vows. Details and scheduling for these courthouse weddings can be found on the St. Louis City Circuit Court's website.
