Over a St. Paul Valentine's Day lunch hour, judges married 21 couples for free in Ramsey County
Gloria and Robert Watson seal their wedding vows with a kiss in front of family and friends during a wedding ceremony at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul on Valentine's Day, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. The St. Paul couple were one of 21 couples married by local, state and federal judges at the courthouse Friday during a lunchtime event hosted by the Ramsey County District Court. They chose Valentine's Day because it was the one-year anniversary of their first date. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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The Ramsey County Courthouse was a happy place on Friday.
Or, a corner of it was happy, filled to overflowing with Valentine's Day cheer.
Because while other people paid parking tickets or attended court hearings, 21 couples were married — for free! — on Valentine's Day in Rooms 40, 41 and 42 in the lower level of the building off Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul.
(While the couples still paid for their marriage licenses, which typically cost $115, the 16 judges on Friday waived the fees they usually charge.)
Judges throughout Minnesota married couples for free on Valentine's Day — 72 in total, according to a spokesperson with the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
This is the second year that the Ramsey County Courthouse was one of the sites participating in the freebie court weddings — and the joy was not limited to the betrothed: The judges and staff who volunteered their time over the lunch hour (also including a judge's spouse who made heart-shaped cookies for the treats table) were beaming during the event.
From St. Paul City Hall, which shares the building with the courthouse, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter also stopped by to join the festivities.
'We're celebrating love,' the mayor said in between shaking hands and posing for selfies with the newlyweds.
Austin Pappas, 28, and Matthew Pappas, 25, were certainly celebrating love — their love.
The St. Paul newlyweds ate slices of wedding cake — provided courtesy of this event — along with their witness, Ben Killian. They wondered if the cake had a lemon filling. Whatever it was, they loved it. As they ate, they listened to an accordion player's romantic music. In the background, the room's angular lines were softened by pink, white and red balloons.
Why a Valentine's Day wedding?
'It makes a good anniversary,' Austin said.
The couple smiled at each other, their gold rings shining with that newlywed shine.
Inside the largest room, tables were set up for each of the judges. Ceremonies were held here and there, with a special backdrop decorated with streamers and balloons for the couples to pose in front of for their just-married photos.
Those couples included Robert Watson, 52, and Gloria Watson, 36.
He wore a blue suit, she wore a white dress. Theirs is a Minnesota love story.
'We got engaged at the Minnesota State Fair,' Robert said. 'At the Grandstand.'
With 187 days to go before the 2025 Minnesota State Fair, Friday was a perfect day to get married.
'It's Valentine's Day — and it's our anniversary,' Gloria said.
The couple said they appreciated the staff and judges who took time out of their regular schedules to make this event happen — including Ramsey County District Judge Jessica Bierwerth, who officiated at their wedding.
'I think it's fantastic for people to come to the courthouse for a celebratory reason,' Bierwerth said. 'It's just great to see all the collective love and happiness in one day.'
It was the judges' Valentine's Day gift to the community.
'It's one day in the year we get to provide love and smiles,' said Ramsey County District Judge Sophia Vuelo, who is the chief organizer of the now annual event.
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(They're already planning next year, so lovebirds should save the date.)
The judges of Ramsey County District Court got some help on Friday from a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge as well as their appellate level colleagues, including Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Karl Procaccini.
In a way, the event was a Valentine's Day gift for everyone, the justice opined, including witnesses and judges as well as the couples.
'It's always fun to see people smiling as they leave court — both parties,' he said. 'This is a wonderful thing.'
John Autey contributed to this report.
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