The Town That Celebrates Marriage
By Grace Palsgrove, Editor
The AAA Touch

The town of Elkton, Maryland, celebrates marriage like no other. Once known as the place to go for a quick wedding, Elkton has been the location of thousands of elopements, especially in the 1920s and ‘30s.

With no need for a blood test and no wait for a license, couples lined the streets waiting their turns to say “I do.” Since 1948 there’s been a three-day wait for the license, but the blood work is still unnecessary, which slowed the demand, but it has not stopped. As the place where my parents married, I can say it was still going strong in the ‘60s, too!

Those who marry in Elkton will be in good company because the weddings of Charles Barkley Jr., Joan Fontaine, Billie Holliday, Pat Robertson, Babe Ruth and Jersey Joe Walcott have all been held here. And it’s infamous from the mention of getting married in Elkton in productions including "The Manchurian Candidate," "Guys and Dolls," "The Philadelphia Story," "Pillow Talk" and "Solid Gold Cadillac."

To celebrate the institution, couples and their loved ones gather on the lawn of the Elkton Chamber & Alliance office and either get married or renew their vows. This year the event will be held at 7:00pm Friday, June 8, at 101 East Main Street, Elkton.

Traditionally, National Marriage Day and Week are in February. "“We have no idea how it came about it June here," Mary Jo Jablonski, town commissioner and Main Street Manager for the Elkton Alliance, who coordinates the event. "We were told to celebrate it in June and we’ve always celebrated it on the second Friday in June."

Last year there were 15 couples being married for the first time and eight renewed their vows. If there are more than five couples being married, a mass wedding will be held. The brides and grooms may invite as many guests as they’d like. For $40, they are served hors d’ouvres, cake and champagne. A live band performs and the couples are given a horse and buggy ride through the streets of Elkton.

"Two years ago, a couple from Upper Darby brought 40 people," Jablonski said. They then went on to a pre-arranged reception at a local restaurant. "Most people are not from Cecil County (where Elkton is located). Four couples from Westminster, Maryland, rent a limo and come to renew their vows every five years."

And one year a couple from up state New York celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal. "Their children gave them a trip to Elkton where they were married. The whole family came to the event to surprise them and continued on with a four-day vacation."

"We want to keep the wedding idea going," Jablonski said. "It’s part of our history."

The National Marriage Day ceremonies are held rain or shine. A tent will be set up in case of inclement weather and the disc jockey will play music for dancing indoors. A non-denominational minister performs the ceremony. A marriage license is needed 48 hours in advance and it must obtained in Cecil County, Maryland.

Brides wear everything from sundresses to traditional gowns and veils. The grooms can be seen in everything from blue jeans to tuxedos. "We’ve even had flower girls," Jablonski said.

To take part in Marriage Day in Elkton, contact the Alliance at least one week in advance at 410-398-5076, email info@elktonalliance.org or visit www.elktonalliance.org.