Connecticut officiant performs free Valentine's Day weddings

STONINGTON, CONN. (WJAR) — On the day about sharing love, dozens of local couples were given the gift of a free, quick wedding ceremony thanks to the kindness of a local wedding officiant.

For 23 years, Marie Tyler Wiley has been marrying people as a part-time job, aside from being a realtor.

“I’ve married over 3,500 people in general," said Wiley. "I love it. I love marrying people."

Wiley loves it so much, for all but three of her years officiating, she's been marrying people for free on Valentine's Day.

“It started 20 years ago. The first year I was going to do it I was like, 'Yay, marry people on Valentine’s Day, this will be great. I went to take their money and I realized, 'Oh my god, I can’t take their money I feel guilty it’s a day of love," said Wiley. “I love it. I love all my couples that I marry, especially on Valentine’s Day because you’re able to make that little circle of love with the three of us up there, it's a connection and that’s what I love.”

Wiley put an open invitation on social media, inviting couples to get married by her at The Meeting House in the Olde Mystic Village on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Not only was she offering to marry people, she also offered vow renewals or her services to perform a commitment ceremony.

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She asked those who planned to get married to bring a marriage certificate from the town of Stonington.

“This fills my heart as far as marrying people because whether you’re helping them out because they can’t afford a big 'to do' or whether they’re like, 'We don’t even want all that, we want to concentrate on each other', it's great," said Wiley.

Couples came from near and far to seal the deal this Valentine's Day.

NBC10 saw some couples stop by who had been married by Wiley in previous years.

“Today I’ve had people from New York, certainly from Rhode Island, all over," said Wiley. “I love it, it's just so much fun. It really is. Valentine’s Day is all about love so why not give away the love on Valentine’s Day."

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Cole and Ariel Newberg of Westbrook, Connecticut, tied the knot in front of their family and friends.

About 30 of them took the trip to Stonington to show support for their love.

“He wanted to elope but this seemed like a happy medium," said Ariel. "All our family got to be here. It was fun, quick and it was awesome."

They pair got engaged about a month ago.

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“This wedding was pretty fitting for us," said Cole. " A little bit of mixed emotions but they all kind of saw that it fit our personalities.”

“It was crazy. It’s like a really fun experience. It definitely feels like a day full of love with all the couples going in and out," added Ariel.