Ray and I Have Been Married 19 Years
Here is the story of our ridiculous courthouse wedding.
Today I tell you a story of the day Ray and I got married. This was no fairy tale wedding - I don’t even have a single photo from the day!
We got married on August 30th, 4 days after I just got home from giving birth to my daughter. Why we scheduled to get married like this is beyond me but it seems very fitting for how Ray and I roll - when we know we want something, we do it.
Having a newborn, we needed someone to watch her, so my mom and my aunt came to our house to watch the baby and my oldest while Ray and I went to the Sharpsburg courthouse to get married.
We get there and the first thing I immediately notice? Duct tape seats. The chairs are all ratty and nasty while we wait our turn with the judge.
While we sit there - I notice a flyer for opioid addiction help - and all the little phone number tabs are ripped off.
This is where I got married. Not a field. Not the beach. Not a beautiful cathedral or a castle. A place where people fight traffic tickets and misdemeanor drug charges.
Still. I wasn’t sad or mad - I just thought it was hilarious. Fitting. Ray and I could be anywhere and be happy.
Let’s talk about the ceremony.
The Ceremony
We get there with the judge, and she’s saying all these really sweet things about how we will love each other forever, and I bust out laughing.
Not just a little laugh—uncontrollable, I’m-going-to-pee-my-pants-because-I-just-had-a-baby kind of laughing. I remember her stern voice: “You know this is serious, right?”
I laughed harder.
Ray looked at me like c’mon, we’re going to get kicked out so I took a moment to compose myself and assured the judge I was of sound mind.
Then it was time to exchange rings and say our vows. Ray and I don’t wear wedding rings, so we had cheap $10 ones from Walmart.
A few minutes later, we weren’t just dating anymore—we were married. In the most ridiculous of ways!
The Reception
And where do we go for our reception? Sam’s Club.
Yes, I know. It made sense at the time—I wanted some easy-to-make frozen foods at home since we’d just given birth. I remember being in the frozen foods section still laughing about the absurdity of it all!
I had what most people would consider the wedding from hell, but here we are 19 years later, still laughing. And honestly? That’s what counts. Plus, what a story! Lace dresses and a fancy cake would have been boring!
Do you have any funny courthouse wedding stories to share? Tell me about it the comments below!
