Ventnor plans wedding and vow renewal ceremonies during the Spring Block Party, Saturday, May 8.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Ventnor Special Events has come up with a unique way to open the summer season and the city hopes it will become an annual event.
Mayor Beth Holtzman will be officiating a vow renewal ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8 during the city’s “Celebration of Love” Spring Block Party being held on Ventnor Avenue.
Couples who want to tie the knot are also invited to hold their nuptials before the vow renewal ceremony. Registration to participate in the wedding or vow renewals is open until April 21.
“As of yesterday, we had three couples who already registered for the vow renewal,” Special Events Coordinator Donna Peterson said.
The city has planned to do the vow renewal last year, she said, but the COVID-19 pandemic required canceling all events.
“It was something we talked about, but when COVID hit, we couldn’t do it,” Peterson said. “We thought doing it this year would be a great way to kick-off the summer season and get us back to some normalcy.”
The Spring Block Party will be the first community event of the season. Peterson has already arranged for other events to welcome Ventnor’s summer residents and visitors, including Summer Beach Jam concerts on Saturdays and Sunset Cinema on Wednesdays on the beach at the Newport Avenue gazebo. The Ventnor City Farmers Market will also be held Friday mornings starting May 28 in the parking lot at St. James Church.
Registration for the group vow renewal is $30. All of the fees collected for the vow renewal will be donated to the Ventnor Educational Community Complex for a student celebration at the end of the school year, Peterson said.
The fee for couples uniting in marriage is $100 for the mayor to officiate the ceremony. Additionally, couples must first obtain a marriage license from the City of Ventnor or the municipality where they reside.
The event will likely be held in front of the stage near Troy Avenue, Peterson said.
“We are just doing our layout now, so the location could change slightly,” she said.
All couples participating in the event will receive a certificate commemorating the special day.
Couples may pre-register by sending an email to Donna Peterson at VentnorEvents@gmail.com containing names, contact information and number of guests attending. Registration emails must be received by April 21.
For more information about the legal requirements to obtain a marriage license or about the marriage license application, contact Ventnor City Clerk Lisa Hand at 609-823-7904, or check with the municipal clerk in the town of residence.
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