Residents Married for Free on Valentine's Day
By: Jamie Kuras
Updated: February 15, 2011
ODESSA -- "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Those words were spoken by Odessa Municipal Judge Dennis Jones quite a few times on Valentine's Day. That's because Jones offered free ceremonies to couples who wanted to get married on this romantic day.
"I'm just trying to do this to give something back to the community that's a little different," Jones said. "I got this idea when I was in law school in Houston in the mid 80's. A lot of judges in Harris County did this and I decided this year to imitate them and offer the free wedding services."
14 couples took part in the free ceremonies and it's something that Manuel and Soledad Trevino have been waiting a long time to do.
"We've been wanting to do it for a long time -- she's been asking the question for years," Manuel said. "So we just decided to do it already. Get it over with. So she'll quit asking."
And other than it not costing the couples a dime, there was another reason why they wanted to have their wedding on Valentine's day. The men wouldn't be able to forget the date.
No matter what their reason was for getting married today, cupid sure struck gold with all the happy couples.
Those words were spoken by Odessa Municipal Judge Dennis Jones quite a few times on Valentine's Day. That's because Jones offered free ceremonies to couples who wanted to get married on this romantic day.
"I'm just trying to do this to give something back to the community that's a little different," Jones said. "I got this idea when I was in law school in Houston in the mid 80's. A lot of judges in Harris County did this and I decided this year to imitate them and offer the free wedding services."
14 couples took part in the free ceremonies and it's something that Manuel and Soledad Trevino have been waiting a long time to do.
"We've been wanting to do it for a long time -- she's been asking the question for years," Manuel said. "So we just decided to do it already. Get it over with. So she'll quit asking."
And other than it not costing the couples a dime, there was another reason why they wanted to have their wedding on Valentine's day. The men wouldn't be able to forget the date.
No matter what their reason was for getting married today, cupid sure struck gold with all the happy couples.
