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Akron Municipal Court turns Valentine’s Day into wedding docket
NATALIE PEACOCK
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 20, 2015
On a very snowy but picturesque Valentine’s Day in the Summit County Metroparks Sand Run Mingo Pavilion, Akron Municipal Court Judge Katarina Cook presided over the weddings of as many as 15 couples.
Instead of holding the weddings on Friday the 13th, Cook and her crew decided that Saturday the 14th, Valentine’s Day, would be more appropriate.
“I think a lot of people might have apprehensions about actually having a wedding and getting married on Friday the 13th,” Cook said. “It was actually Peter Spearing who takes the pictures for the weddings who volunteered his time and gave me the idea to do it on Saturday.”
Normally most couples just go to the courthouse to wed but Cook said she thought that such a life-changing event deserved better.
“The reason we were doing it here (The Metroparks) is I thought it’s a little more romantic than the courthouse,” she said. “I thought that it would be a nice experience for the people that wanted to get married on Valentine’s Day.”
The Mingo Pavilion was festively decorated for the occasion with hearts and flowers. Sweet treats such as cupcakes, cookies, strawberries and punch were also available for all couples who said “I do” and their guests.
As an Akron Municipal Court Judge, Cook said weddings are a favorite duty.
“This is the one time that both parties walk away happy,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed doing them and I actually do perform weddings outside of court if people request it.”
Cook said that many people don’t know that municipal judges can perform weddings outside of the courthouse.
“I’ve done weddings at Stan Hywet, the O’Neil House and even people’s backyards,” she said. “All they need to do is call my court and I’ll make sure the date works and I’ll be there.”
The first couple to wed on Valentine’s Day was Regina and Dave Greer of Firestone Park. Originally planning to get married on Feb. 13, the Greers said that the court asked if they would be willing to come a day later.
“We’ve been together for 21 years,” said Regina Greer. “So it was time.”
Dave Greer concurred. “I’m just ready to say, ‘I do.’
Regina said getting married on Valentine’s Day had an added advantage for her husband.
“He thinks it’s good because he won’t forget our wedding date.”
Another couple, Shawn and Nicole Roeder, already said their wedding vows in a beachside ceremony in Punta Cana, Puerto Rico. But the Mingo Pavilion had special meaning for the couple.
“Last summer we came out here and had a little picnic lunch,” Shawn said. “When we found out that the wedding was going to be here, it was crazy that it happened to be here.”
Summit Metroparks donated the space in Mingo Pavilion for the wedding ceremonies.
“We were very fortunate that they were nice enough not to charge a rental fee,” Judge Cook said.
As far as getting married on Valentine’s Day goes, Nicole Roeder said the day was a happy coincidence.
“At first we didn’t even realize that it was Valentine’s Day. So we kind of thought it was cute.”