Couples marry, renew vows at Lakefront Brewery for Valentine's Day despite pandemic

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For many people, there’s no better feeling than being in love.

And in Wisconsin, what better way to celebrate love in Wisconsin than by getting married… at a brewery.

It’s a small space inside Lakefront Brewery that’s been transformed into a wedding chapel, of sorts.

“And may your days be good and your lives be long upon this Earth," said a wedding officiant.

Rick and Monica Edmonds renewed their vows this Valentine Day celebrating 40 years of marriage.

“It feels wonderful. This is a magnificent place to do it again, a brewery. The beer is great, too," said Monica Edmonds.

The couple met during spring break in the 1970s on a beach in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Rick came down from Toronto. Monica from Chicago.

“Last year we saw that they were doing this but we got the list too late and this year, with everything going on, we made sure we were going to renew these vows up here," said Rick Edmonds.

These ceremonies aren’t new to Lakefront – but they are very different in a pandemic.

This year, couples can only invite four guests, everyone must be masked – except during the kiss – and there’s a plexiglass divider at the podium.

“It’s been odd. It’s been an adjustment but people seem to be receptive to how stern we are about a lot of the guidelines," said on-site manager Dylan Mazurkiewicz.

Guidelines aside, it’s clear that not even a pandemic can’t stop love.

And after 40 years, the Edmonds have advice on staying together.

“Love takes learning. The beginning part is easy. The rest of it you have to take day by day," said Monica Edmonds.

And if you’re interested in doing this next year – I’m told Lakefront usually puts out the information starting in late-December.