The bride and groom were dressed as Harley Quinn and the Joker from Suicide Squad.
The ring bearers were Tinker Bell and a little Indian.
The witnesses were Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.
This was the unusual bridal party for the first of seven Halloween weddings performed Monday at the Akron Civic Theatre. Akron Municipal Court, which routinely has weddings for Valentine’s Day, decided for the first time to offer nuptials for a scarier holiday.
Judge Katarina Cook had the idea for the Hallo-weddings after getting a request to perform a wedding on this holiday at the O’Neil House. Cook said weddings are one of the best parts of her job.
“This is one time when both parties leave happy,” said Cook, who performed the lunchtime ceremonies in a black robe, along with a Halloween scarf and Halloween socks. “With most of the things that happen in court, they may not be going home that way.”
Cook gave each couple a goody bag with candy and a gift certificate to Mary Coyle ice cream parlor. They also received a digital photo of their ceremony with the historic theater’s gallery and starry ceiling as the backdrop.
The downtown theater has regularly been a site for weddings, but at First Night on New Year’s Eve, rather than Halloween.
“I think it’s great,” said Jo Ann Salge, the theater’s stage manager. “I’m a firm believer in the Civic. It’s full of magic and surprises.”
The Quinn/Joker wedding was a surprise because of the nontraditional garb. Amanda Bowen, the bride, wore a short skirt, black fishnet stockings, a T-shirt that said “Daddy’s Lil Monster” and pigtails died pink and green. Michael Dowd-Farmer, the groom, sported green hair and Joker-style makeup.
“We just kind of came up with it,” said Bowen, who originally thought the wedding was going to be at court.
“This was amazing!” said Dowd-Farmer, of Akron, who had dated Bowen for 12 years.
Not all of the couples wore costumes, which were optional. This included Zandra Bell, who sported a white skirt and matching jacket and Tyron Perry, 25, who donned a plaid shirt and jeans. Bell, 29, of Akron, cried as she said her vows.
“The day finally came,” said Bell, who had dated Perry for 5½ years. “I’m happy that I got to marry the man I love.”
Bell said she never considered wearing costumes.
“I didn’t even think about how it was Halloween,” she said.
Joseph Kleinwechter and Adam Swiger considered going the costume route but opted to both wear all black instead.
“We decided to go a little more traditional,” Kleinwechter said.
Kleinwechter said he loved the setting for the wedding and hopes the court will consider making the Halloween weddings an annual event.
“I think it’s a lot nicer than a little room at the courthouse,” he said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.