The Final Wedding Send Off

Well, this is it, my last wedding on a Wednesday post from the St. Louis County Courthouse. What better way to close out my research than with a military salute send off to Sergeant Pronschindke and his bride Megan. 
From a window in the courthouse, I was able to capture this breath-taking view of them. Megan's gown blowing in the wind. I couldn't wait to meet them.

Judge Walsh presided over more than forty weddings on this Wednesday. When this bride and groom stood before the judge, he thanked the sergeant for his service and welcoming her as part of the military family. They posed for me before their nuptials.









The first to recite their vows was a young Asian couple. After they were pronounced husband and wife, he saluted her with a kiss and a bow. I hadn't seen that gesture before, but I like it! As they were leaving the courtroom, he gave me a peace sign before posing with his new wife.






One thing I can say by attending these public weddings is I have witnessed several couples of different ethnicities: Indian, Arabians, Nigerian, etc.
I'm accustomed to seeing little girls dress up as flower girls, but this sight was picture worthy, a little boy with a blue Mohawk to match his shirt. Now, I have seen everything.









Whether in church or at the courtroom, some wedding ceremonies don't start on time, especially when you're number thirteen in line like this beautiful bride. Instead of blushing, she was frantic, because her finance had yet to arrive. I gave her some words of encouragement, sharing that my church wedding started two hours late, but I had been married thirty-plus years. Eventually he did show up. I'm sure her husband-to-be got a tongue-lashing before they both said, "I do."


Lastly, I captured this moment of a couple on the back row. While waiting their turn, the bride assisted her fiance with his cuff links. Already, they were a team.







I can't wait to take you on my next writing journey. You'll next know where I'll show up next!

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Pat is the multi-published author of more than a dozen Christian titles and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.

As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors and then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.

Pat is currently overseeing the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Pat converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter.

Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net or on social media.

Download her latest release JET: Back Story to Love Led by the Spirit for only .99

A Family Affair

When I walked into the St. Louis County courtroom this Wednesday to watch weddings, I had already missed Judge McShane presiding over the first couple's nuptials. The couple was almost out the door when the new wife made her new husband stop. Evidently, couple number one and two had become fast friends while waiting their turns and made a pact to witness each other's nuptials.

Since I've started attending these ceremonies, I've seen happy couples surrounded by small and large numbers of families and friends. I love this picture. Also, I noticed more than a few brides who were expecting. It was heartwarming to see couples wanting to be a family. Now that is a happy ending.







Formal dress attire isn't required for these weddings. I've seen short and long after-five dresses, matching denim outfits, and very casual attire. But this groom's orange tennis shoes stole the show. All right now.


One thing I noticed about Judge McShane was her patience or determination that each bride and groom repeat their vows. One groom even repeated the judge when it wasn't part of the vow for him to recite. I could hear soft chuckles.

More than once I heard Judge McShane say, "Until death do us part."

I could tell the words seemed to sink in with a few couples from the expression of awe on the brides' faces to the way the grooms held their hands. 

I fell in love with one couple. She was beautiful and the groom was handsome. And their personality was fun. My imagination could write their love story. Sitting as a spectator on the back row, she remarked at some of the couples' lack of affection, "What happened to kissing the bride?" Not only did they make a good-looking couple, they had a handsome son who couldn't stay awake for the big moment. 

I love her expression when they first stood before the judge. Either she's saying or thinking, "Hmm-mm." LOL

I did learn her soon-to-be husband's name is Stefan. There are two things about him that I'll never forget--hearing him say, "I do," and seeing him back it up with a wink. Sigh. There is something sexy about a man who winks at his woman.
Something tells me Stefan and his family are going to make it thirty plus years. God bless you guys in Jesus' name.

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Pat is the multi-published author of more than a dozen Christian titles and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.

As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors and then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.

Pat is currently overseeing the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Pat converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter.

Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net or on social media.

Download her latest release JET: Back Story to Love Led by the Spirit for only .99

Pokemon GO vs. Finding A Groom

I'm starting to learn no two weddings on Wednesdays are ever the same.

Before one bride could exchange her vows, she had to track down a pokestop alert from her Pokemon Go App. She was frantic when she entered the courthouse, asking strangers where to find a certain statue. I'm happy to report she found it next door at the police station (seriously, I can't make this stuff up).With her first mission accomplished, she was able to say, "I do," hours later in Judge Jamison's chambers. Love the blue dress!

Between the nuptials, Judge Jamison's bailiff and a court clerk decided to munch on some Cheez-Its. It was going to be a long day with thirty-two couple committing to "for better or worse." Speaking of bailiffs, every Wednesday there is a different judge, and their bailiffs do things a certain way. For example, Frank had empty seats in the courtroom and I asked why he had family and friends standing outside. He told me if I wanted to find them a seat, I could. The church usher in me kicked in, so I seated the elderly and disabled first on the front pews--oops, I mean benches. I reserved seating in the jury box seats for the brides and grooms. Not bad, I packed them in!

I love it when I see people dressed for a grand occasion. One such couple is pictured below. I chatted with her about this being her day. I asked, "Do you feel like a princess?"
"Yes," she answered almost breathless. She went on to explain her husband-to-be was from Columbia and they had a handsome little son. Her friends made this day special by giving her a break on the dress and offering their services for her hair and make up. They helped her create a fairy tale wedding. Next, I took a picture of a bride who showed off her ring as the new Mrs. She and her new hubby made such a cute couple.

Weddings are a family affair, even at the courthouse. Check out this happy couple with their daughter. the girl was the perfect flower girl. Her smile was pure happiness. Love it!

Look at this stack of the marriage certificates and more were coming. I assisted this court reporter, who needed a second witness, by adding my name to the dotted line. Finally, after an hour, or so of "hard work," I had to go. I asked Frank, the bailiff, if I could leave departing words to the couples. Since I had the floor, I congratulated all of them and challenged them to catch up with me--I've been married for 33 years.

That's it for me this week. #WeddingsWednesday

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Pat is the multi-published author of more than a dozen Christian titles and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.

As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors and then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.

Pat is currently overseeing the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Pat converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter.

Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net or on social media.

Download her latest release JET: Back Story to Love Led by the Spirit for only .99

Writing Research 101: Becoming Part of the Story

Welcome to my Courtroom Weddings on Wednesdays

Attending these festivities is part of my writing research for a Christian romance series. Yesterday afternoon, Judge Dueker presided over 25+ marriages, each lasted no more than five minutes. Although I could only watch about a dozen or so, I had an incredible opportunity to stand in as a witness for young couple, known as #23, and sign their certificate.

Every week I asked random couples why they chose to exchange vows in the courthouse. Their reasons varied from "Why not, we've been together forever," to "He's getting ready to serve." Some didn't need any other reason than to officially be a family with their children dressed in their Sunday best. And the couples' ages ranged from their twenties to the seventies.

Couple 23 could have been my children. Nervously, the groom wanted to know if they needed rings, I told him no. He asked if they needed a witness. Automatically, my hand went up, and I volunteered to be their witness, even though the court reporter would have been the default witness anyway. I was as hyped as them. How exciting. I was about to become part of their story.


Since they were number #23 and the judge had finished #14, I asked the bailiff if "my" couple could go next, because I had to leave. Minutes later, I stood before the judge watching them exchange vows.
Whether they planned to get married yesterday or not, I don't know, because everyone doesn't dress up for the occasion.
Oh, and their reason for the courthouse wedding was they were very religious and they couldn't move in together unless they were married. Young love. I did challenge them to stay married as long as me--thirty-three years. And I will be keeping them in my prayers.

 

There was a family that traveled from China to see their daughter get married. Everyone was dressed for the occasion and they even let me take a group picture. After the bride and groom exchanged vows, their guests formed a receiving line outside the courtroom and softly clapped as the newlyweds walked out.

There was another tender moment that made me glad that I pen Christian romance novels. One couple exchanged vows as the groom held their infant daughter. The baby couldn't have been more than a few weeks old. She rubbed his arm as they repeated their vows and their kiss was gentle. Since some couples skipped the smooches part, this was an ahh moment from the audience. Then new bride left the courtroom blinking back tears.

Yes, I found love in the courtroom on yesterday and I can't wait to write the stories that have inspired my imagination in my Love in the Courtroom series.
Back next week with new brides and grooms.
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