The Akron Municipal Court is giving engaged couples the chance to wed at four local venues. The court is teaming up with Akron Civic Theatre, House Three Thirty, Akron Art Museum and Towpath Tennis Center to marry local couples on three upcoming holidays: Valentine’s Day (Wednesday, Feb. 14), Leap Day (Thursday, Feb. 29) and Pi Day (Wednesday, March 14).
On Valentine’s Day, couples have two venues to choose from. Judge Ron Cable will officiate ceremonies in the grand lobby of the Akron Civic Theatre from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and Judge Jon Oldham will officiate ceremonies at House Three Thirty from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Those who opt for House Three Thirty will be married inside the venue’s Sweet Shop and will receive a scoop of ice cream afterward.)
On Thursday, Feb. 29, Cable will officiate ceremonies at the Akron Art Museum in honor of Leap Day. And on Wednesday, March 14, or Pi Day, he will officiate ceremonies at Towpath Tennis Center. Couples will receive a complimentary pie from The Gardner Pie Company.
Couples may invite up to 10 guests to attend their ceremonies.
Marriage licenses must be obtained in advance
Ceremony appointments are first-come, first-served, and they must be scheduled and paid for in advance. The ceremony fee is $35 for those who live in the court’s jurisdiction (Akron, Bath, Fairlawn, Lakemore, Richfield, Springfield Township and the Summit County portion of Mogadore) and $50 for those who live outside it. The fee must be paid in cash.
Couples sign up for ceremonies at the Service Bailiffs’ Office and pay the ceremony fee at the Civil Division of the Clerk of Court’s Office. Both offices are inside the Akron Municipal Court, which is located at 172 S. Broadway St. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Couples also need a marriage license. Marriage license applications can be completed online via the Summit County Probate Court’s website. The license fee is $64. Couples then have 30 days to appear at the court with their required documents to finalize the marriage license and receive a copy. The court’s address is 209 S. High St., and the marriage license department is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Couples are allotted 15 minutes for their ceremonies, and there are seven slots available in each 90-minute timespan, said Nicole Hagy, community outreach and grants coordinator for Akron Municipal Court, via email. She recommends couples show up 15 minutes before their scheduled ceremonies.
Last year, the municipal court offered 26 off-site wedding opportunities at the Akron Civic Theatre, House Three Thirty, Firestone Stadium, and Hower House Museum, among others. Hagy said the court plans to offer more off-site weddings throughout 2024.
For questions or to ensure space is available, call Patricia Williams, the Akron Municipal Court’s chief service bailiff, at 330-375-2592.
