Her usual job is documenting pleas of 鈥済uilty鈥� or 鈥渘ot guilty,鈥� but on Valentine鈥檚 Day, Prince William County鈥檚 Clerk of the Circuit Court Jacqueline Smith was in taking vows of聽 鈥淚 do” in an annual wedding event.
鈥淲e started doing it because we don鈥檛 have a lot of things to celebrate at the courthouse,鈥� Smith said.
One by one, couples stepped up to the altar setup at Three Monkeys Pub and Chophouse in Manassas鈥� historic downtown to accept their life sentence of love.
By day’s end, Smith had officiated 32 marriages.
鈥淓very time I perform a wedding, I think about my wedding day, and how happy I was and how special it was. I can see that in our couples,鈥� Smith said.
Orlando Pizaro and Karen Aguilar were among the couples to take part in Monday’s ceremonies. They’ve been in a relationship for eight years and decided this event was the perfect opportunity to make it official.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a new start,鈥� Pizaro said.
For Stephanie and Kevin Aguilar, after 10 years together, they were excited to take part and say, “I do.”
鈥淚 feel lovely right now; I just want to walk outside and tell everybody I’m married,鈥� Stephanie Aguilar said.
The 146-year-old building where the restaurant resides may provide luck for the new couples. It had once a been a church and, no doubt, has been home to many weddings.
Karen Williams, one of the owners of Three Monkeys Pub and Chophouse, said this is the perfect way to give back to the community. The restaurant also rallied 26 area businesses to donate gifts, and even cakes for the couples.
鈥淥ne of the other owners keeps saying, ‘We鈥檙e just in love with love around here,’鈥� Williams said.
Cobby and Audrey Manteaw from Woodbridge are originally from Ghana, so plan to have a more formal wedding there. They chose Monday’s event to say their vows so they can obtain their Virginia marriage license.
鈥淲e were very excited and blessed to see this day,鈥� Audrey Manteaw said.
For Roquia and Nicolas Hagler, of Woodbridge, they said there is no better day to tie the knot.
鈥淚t was just a great thing to have it on Valentine鈥檚 Day, the day of love,鈥� Roquia Hagler said.
In addition to the weddings, Smith said many couples used Monday’s event as a chance to renew their vows.
