TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 More couples in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties are choosing courthouse weddings, with local clerks\u2019 offices reporting increases in marriage ceremonies as some newlyweds look for a simpler and less expensive option.<\/p>\n
At the Hillsborough County Pat Frank Courthouse, couples lined up Friday to say \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garnet Arias and Jessica Pugh, who have known each other for 3 1\/2 years, exchanged rings there after deciding several months ago to get married.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore simple, less stress, and we can spend more time for ourselves,\u201d Arias said.<\/p>\n
Arias said the cost and planning involved in a larger wedding were factors in the couple\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cA big wedding, it\u2019s kind of stressful with all the planning or all the money that you got to invest in everything,\u201d Arias said. \u201cSo for us, more simple is better for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court has performed about 2,800 courthouse ceremonies so far this year, up from 1,800 at the same time last year, according to Chakeya Boykins, director of the official records and tax deeds department for the clerk\u2019s office. That is an increase of more than 55%.<\/p>\n
Boykins said courthouse ceremonies cost $30, and she believes rising wedding costs may be one reason more couples are choosing them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that we do make it a very nice experience,\u201d Boykins said. \u201cWe have a nice little room and they can bring their own photographer. Sometimes they have their own flower girls. They have a whole wedding party set up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some couples are using the courthouse ceremony as a step before a larger celebration. Aaron Floyd and Vasiliki Papaioannou-Floyd got married at the courthouse last week and said they still plan to have a bigger wedding ceremony later.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor right now, it takes time to get to that point of having the big, grand old wedding,\u201d Papaioannou-Floyd said. \u201cSo we wanted to do it now.\u201d<\/p>\n