Love is All Around at the Bridgeview Courthouse

There’s a lot to be said for a courthouse wedding. Couples don’t have the stress of planning a wedding, paying for a wedding, or figuring out where to seat their crazy uncle who likes to pop out his glass eye at the reception dinner.

Patch caught some very happy couples who had just tied the knot at the Bridgeview Courthouse catching stretch limos, posing for pictures in front of the courthouse oblivious to the smokers in the background, or walking through the parking lot.

There were brides going for the full wedding-industrial complex, traditional white gown, as well as other couples who opted for business casual attire.

James Scalzitti, deputy communications director for the Cook County Clerk’s office, said the county has issued 21,500 total marriage licenses so far this year, 2,236 of those at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

For comparison, about 9,170 marriage licenses issued downtown; 2,211 in Markham; 2,044 in Maywood; 2,487 in Rolling Meadows; 3,151 in Skokie

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s the number of couples who got married though, because you have 60 days from getting the marriage license to get married,” Scalzitti said via email. “So it’s possible some folks who’ve gotten their marriage licenses this past week may not get married until later this month or September.”

According to The Knot, wedding costs continue to rise. U.S. couples spent an average of $31,213 last year on reception halls, flowers, photographers, videographers, wedding event planners, wedding dresses, groom’s attire and other trappings.

No wonder some couples are opting for a courthouse wedding and a steak dinner with their closest intimates afterward.

Given by the happiness exuded in our quick cell phone snaps on the way into covering bond court, we’d guess none of these couples felt cheated out of a stressful $31,213 wedding.

Who knew that Cook County’s Fifth District Municipal courthouse could be such a source for romance and love?