FREEHOLD – This Valentine’s Day, the Monmouth County Clerk’s office held their second ‘group wedding,’ where couples could be legally wed in a group setting.
26 legally single people entered the venue on Valentine’s Day, and 13 married couples came out.
The ceremony was held free for couples who planned to attend, only requiring a marriage license to be obtained prior to the event. There was one officiant conducting the ceremony.
“The turnout was great, and the slots filled up quickly,” said Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon, who served as officiant. “The response to [the previous group wedding in June] was also strong, which is why we added an additional Valentine’s Day Group Wedding to the calendar.”
The ceremony was held in the clubhouse of Hominy Hill, a golf course that is part of the Monmouth County Parks system. Along with the atmosphere that was provided at this location naturally, employees of the clerk’s office decorated and added special touches in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.
Music, a dance floor and all of the decorations at the venue provided for the right wedding atmosphere for those attending. Each couple was allowed to bring four guests to watch the ceremony with them, allowing for a crowded room of over 50 people.
Along with the guests, the clerk’s office also provided a livestream of the event for friends and relatives of the couples at home to tune in to.
People of all ages and demographics attended and participated in the event, but one thing remained consistent – everyone was pleased to be there.
“The feedback has been amazing!” Hanlon said. “All who are eligible to legally marry are welcome to apply!”
The original idea for the group wedding came from the high demand of wedding ceremonies at the Clerk’s office, which became so voluminous that there was not always availability. By conducting this event, Hanlon believed this would be a good way to combat the influx while also celebrating the romantic season.
“Other counties around the country have held group weddings, so I thought this would be a great way to provide more couples the opportunity [to get married],” Hanlon said.
As for future events, she has expressed an interest in continuing the tradition with Valentine’s Day, but also conducting the same sort of ceremony during different times of the year. The summer group wedding, which was also positively received, allowed for a larger turnout and seasonal decorations with the venue carrying outdoors.
While the factor of attendance is the major difference between wedding ceremonies held at the clerk’s office and the group wedding, Hanlon said there were other factors to consider as well.
“I conduct the ceremony the same way for a group wedding as I would for one couple,” she said. “The major difference is the amount of planning that is required to make an event of that scale go smoothly, but so far, we’ve had excellent experiences.”
Along with the decorations and professional photographs, each couple has a one of a kind memory to hold on to, thanks to the Monmouth County Clerk’s office.
