Milwaukee-area couples tie the knot at the courthouse, brewery on Valentine's Day

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Whether they were walking down the aisle for the first time or renewing a commitment they made years ago, love and matrimony were in the air for dozens of Milwaukee couples Friday.

"This day means a lot to me. This is the day that we get to tie it, be together for a lifetime. And it's the day of love: What more can we ask for?" asked Brenda Acevedo.

Acevedo and Bernard Garza were one of about 40 couples who tied the knot at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on Valentine's Day. Judges and court commissioners presided over the intimate ceremonies, donating their time.

Some couples, like Davita Mims and Marvin Robinson have been waiting years for this moment.

"(It) has always been his idea for us to come to the courthouse, but me, I wanted the grand finale of a wedding. We would go back and forth and finally, I just gave in and said, 'You know what? The best thing is that we're married, we love each other, so it doesn't really matter where we get married,'" Mims said.

And Valentine's Day isn't just about the creation of love but also the continuation of it. With beers in their hands and tears in their eyes, dozens of couples took part in a mass vow renewal ceremony at Lakefront Brewery.

Other couples there -- like Mya Smith and John Mesch -- got the chance to head down the aisle for the first time. The brewery has been offering free weddings on Valentines day for four years now with brewery tour guides performing the ceremonies.

"We were planning a bigger wedding, something like in September, and it was stressing us both out. This came up and we're just like, 'You know? Let's go for it. Let's do this,'" Mesch said.

And when in love, you have to pass on your knowledge to others hoping to find it.

"Just don't give up, go hard," Acevedo said.

"Just do a small wedding and have a wonderful day. Be around the people you love," said Smith.