AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Love is in the air, and the ink is just beginning to dry for a series of newlyweds who tied the knot this Valentine’s Day.

Richmond County’s Civil and Magistrate Court staff wanted to help couples this holiday, especially after Hurricane Helene impacted so many hoping to save up for their big day.

So, they held special wedding ceremonies on Friday for free.

The most important promises of the day weren’t sworn in court but instead spoken between two hearts, free of charge.

Everlasting love comes with patience, intimacy and commitment.

“We’ve been together a long time. It’s about 20-something years,” said newlyweds Rebecca and Frederick Dickerson.

Daris and Amber Pinkson said: “I mean pretty much it’s like if you’re gonna do it, just do it, you know. So it all made sense, it all made sense.”

Garrett and Nicole Smith said: “We wanted to get enrolled in the military system as quickly as possible that would allow us to get stationed together in the future. And to do that, you need to be married.”

They come in as two and leave as one.

“We leave Augusta in the next month and a half. The goal is to live together again at some point. So, we got to figure it out, get enrolled in the system and figure out what we can do to make that happen,” said the Smiths.

But as the saying goes, when love is real, it finds a way.

“My sister-in-law sent me a text and told me, and she said, ‘Well it’s time for y’all, y’all need to get down there.’ So, I said we’re going,” said the Dickersons.

Carletta Sims Brown, Chief Judge of the Civil and Magistrate Court of Richmond County, said: “We have military families. Families that have been together for many, many years and are finally able to make this bond without going into the financial burden that weddings can carry, so it doesn’t get any better than that.”

They’re weathering all odds.

While many lives were put on hold after storms, with a servant’s heart, Judge Sims Brown is helping couples start their lives.

“Our staff was slammed and resets and the massive amount of new filings that are coming in. But when one couple said, ‘Are y’all doing the weddings this year?’ Yeah, we’re going to do it this year because the community has seen it, they’re starting to embrace it. And so, we want to. That’s one of the greatest services we can give,” she said.

No better day to bond with those in love than on the most romantic day of the year.

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