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Only one couple married at DeKalb County Courthouse on Valentine’s Day

Daniel Grecu and Theresa Grecu met on Valentine’s Day seven years ago at work at PSI in Tennessee.

Over time, the couple bonded over their same last name and similar interests, including music, fishing and camping.

This Valentine’s Day, the couple officially became Mr. and Mrs. Grecu as they were married by Circuit Judge Tom Doherty at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore.

“I knew he was the one, right after I saw his smile when he walked through the door,” Theresa Grecu, 51, said. “He proposed about 20 times over the past seven years, and now we’re finally getting married.”

“Now she’ll always be my valentine and my true love,” Daniel Grecu, 57, said. “I always say God put us together, that he made her for me. Love is forever, it’s not overnight.”

The newlyweds are planning to honeymoon in Colorado in June and are looking forward to moving into a new house together.

Judge Doherty said that although Valentine’s Day is known as a romantic holiday, there usually isn’t an uptick in weddings in DeKalb County on Feb. 14. Daniel and Theresa Grecu were the only couple married at the courthouse on Valentine’s Day this year; two other couples did not attend their scheduled wedding appointment.

Only one couple was married on Halloween, the courthouse was closed for Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. A total of 24 couples were married in December and 22 couples were married in January.

Judge Doherty said that he married 170 couples last year. The DeKalb County Clerk’s office issued about 600 marriage licenses total last year.

“I’ve seen a lot of weddings and a lot of couples,” Doherty said. “Some show up in T-shirts and flip flops, others wear suits and dresses. Some have family and friends, some come by themselves. One wedding, the couple was dressed as a hot dog and a clown and their three buddies were dressed as bananas. I do try to keep weddings a solemn affair because it is a very serious ceremony.”

Getting married in DeKalb County

A couple who intends to be married or enter into a civil union in Illinois must apply in person for a marriage or civil union license in the county clerk’s office where the marriage will be performed. There is no residency requirement for out-of-state applicants. While applicants may apply for a license in any county, the license is only effective in the county where it is issued. The marriage or civil union must take place in the county where the license was obtained.

Both parties must be present, in person, to complete the application. It takes about 20 minutes to process the license. Couples must bring a state-issued ID. Applying for the license costs $35. The license is effective the next day and expires in 60 days.

Choosing a religious or civil ceremony dictates who performs the wedding. According to state statute, 750 ILCS 5/209, marriages may be solemnized by a judge, a county clerk in counties with 2 million or more inhabitants, or a mayor or president of a city, village or incorporated town.

Marriages are performed at the DeKalb County Courthouse by appointment at 1 and 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 1 p.m. Fridays. Marriages cost $10 cash and couples must bring their marriage license. Up to 15 guests are allowed to attend. An exchanging of rings and having witnesses is optional.

Once the marriage is performed, the officiant completes the marriage certificate and forwards it to the county clerk within 10 days.

A certified copy of the marriage license is then available at the county clerk. In DeKalb County, the first copy costs $15 and additional copies cost $5 each.

For information about getting married in DeKalb County, call the circuit clerk at 815-895-7160 or the county clerk at 815-895-7149.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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