Contact: Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer, Cleveland Municipal Court
Office: 216 664 6787   Cell: 216 789 2597   Email:  ference@cmcoh.org

(Cleveland) --Love was in the air and all around the Cleveland City Hall Rotunda last Wednesday when Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and eight Cleveland Municipal Court Judges joined 31 couples in matrimony on a very special day - Valentine’s Day.

“I was honored to participate in such a joyous occasion for these couples on Valentine’s Day and look forward to continuing the tradition and hosting this event in the rotunda,” said Mayor Bibb.

The ceremonies started at 11:00 a.m. and finished two hours later with the last couple renewing their vows 12 years after they tied the knot on Valentine’s Day.

Going outside the Justice Center for weddings on Valentine’s Day started in 2009 when that special day fell on a Saturday.  A number of couples wanted to get married and the building was closed, so Judge Lauren Moore reached out to Tower City and the ceremonies were performed there until the pandemic hit.

“Now that things are pretty much back to normal we wanted a more historic location and City Hall was gracious enough to make it all happen,” said Judge Moore.

The Mayor’s office and court personnel were involved in the staging of the event, which included a red and white backdrop, balloons and specially decorated cupcakes for the couples.

The other judges that performed weddings that day included: Judges Andrea Nelson Moore, Shiela Turner McCall, Jazmin Torres-Lugo, Ann Clare Oakar, Bridget O’Brien, Suzan Sweeney and Sydney Strickland Saffold.

Participants were also treated to music performed by the very talented and award winning performer Lucretia Bolton who currently serves as personal bailiff to Cleveland Municipal Judge Jeffrey Johnson.

At the end of the ceremony there was a drawing for couples to win a $100 dollar gift certificate to Morton’s Steakhouse and the winner was Ne`Chelle Sanders of Cleveland.

“It was a beautiful and special day and winning this just made it that more exciting,” said the new bride.