Cupid's calling

SCHERERVILLE | Valentine's Day will be an easy anniversary date to remember for 14 couples married Monday at Albert's Diamond Jewelers.

Fourteen seemed to be the magic number. This was the 14th year for the Feb. 14 ceremonies, which take place in a part of the store decorated as a wedding chapel.

"Everybody gets to share Fred and Donna's anniversary date," said Josh Halpern, who owns Albert's with his parents, Fred and Donna Halpern. The couple were married Feb. 14, 1968, and the tradition at Albert's honors those nuptials.

That tradition is what drew Kathleen Bowen, of Gary, and Willie Harris, of Chicago, to choose the jeweler for their wedding. It was even more festive because the bride is 71 and the groom is 73.

"I read a lot about this in the past few years," said Bowen, a retired nurse. "I think it's wonderful. I never thought I'd be a bride at my age."

The new Mr. and Mrs. Harris were introduced 18 months ago by her daughter, Antoinette Williams, who served as her mother's maid of honor.

Hammond City Judge Jeff Harkin and Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas Webber officiated at the ceremonies, which began at 11:30 a.m. and went until evening.

"I love doing these ceremonies," Harkin said. "It's a wonderful diversion from what I usually do."

Jamie Juarez and Chris Sulcer, of Valparaiso, were escorted separately down the aisle by their 3-year old daughter, Megan. Dressed in a red velvet dress, Megan held tight to her plush Care Bear and stood between her parents as Harkin pronounced them husband and wife.

Helen Garrison, Albert's special events coordinator, hovered around the couples and their guests, making sure the ceremonies went off on schedule.

After the free wedding ceremonies, couples received photographs of their event, a champagne toast and a wedding cake. Ultra Foods provided individual wedding cakes, and bouquets and boutonnieres were donated by Monarch Florist of Schererville. Bernie Zieman of Timeless Images in Highland took photos and Homenclature of Munster donated a wedding backdrop.