Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon couples of all ages gather at our local courthouse to marry. Men and women of all ages and races come together for short, succinct ceremonies that bind them together. On January 6 a reporter and I went to the courthouse to report on the activity. We’re normally in the stately old building to cover the felonies and other mayhem so common these days.

We witnessed, wrote about and photographed three of the four weddings that took place in under thirty minutes. It’s interesting to note that one of the four couples wanted to keep their nuptials out of the newspaper. Two of the couples met on facebook, and the relationship of the fourth couple began with a tattoo. He was the artist, and she was first his canvas, and now his bride.