Manchester JP Carries Out A Valentine's Day Tradition: Free Weddings

MANCHESTER, CT — As February and Valentine's Day approach, so does a time-honored tradition in Manchester — free elopements, officiated by one of the region's most fun-loving officiants.

The Valentine's Day nuptials take place at Manchester Town Hall and include not only the honor of being married by popular Justice of the Peace Tom Topping but photos by Focus Film.

"I have been doing these for about 23 years now," Topping said. "Weddings are about love, not profit. I get to hear some beautiful sentiments shared between brides and their fathers as he gives her hand in marriage."

Topping said people often ask me what he says to the couple as the ceremony starts.

"Basically, I am letting them know it's normal to cry those tears of joy," he said while admitting, "And I need a minute before we start to compose myself, too."

Topping estimates that, on Valentines Day alone, he's probably married 30 or more couples since he started in 2001.

Topping says he loves special occasions. At last Thanksgiving Day'sManchester Road Race, he married the event's "Runaway Bride Couple."

He presides over marriages for active duty and retired military couples for free as well. Those generally take place on Veterans Day, Memorial Day or the Fourth of July," he said.

But they can be anytime.

"And they often get married suddenly, when one of them gets orders to ship out," he said.

Here are the particulars of the Valentine's Day weddings: