Wedding bells spice up the routine of elections, passports and paperwork in Lincoln County clerk’s office

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle 

NEWPORT – Emmi Angelo’s hand shook as she signed her name on the marriage certificate.

She had driven four hours from Vancouver, Wash. to the Lincoln County courthouse because she had fallen in love with a commercial fisherman she met online. She wore a white lace dress that showed her neck and hand tattoos and bold turquoise and beaded jewelry.

“We are absolutely insane,” said Kodi Brys as he smiled at Angelo and signed his name below the looping script of the document. “We are really doing this.”

Family members bouquets of flowers in hand crowded the hallway and patiently waited on the bench outside the county clerk’s office, normally the scene of ballot counting, passport applications, property registration and liquor licenses.

“These kids are crazy,” Angelo’s mother said in a mock whisper, smiling.

Brys, a Newport fisherman and Angelo, a pharmacy technician from southwest Washington have known each other for a month, and they pretty much immediately knew they wanted to get married.

County clerk Amy Southwell wasn’t phased – during her first three years in ottice she has married approximately 400 people before Brys and Angelo. Couples that knew each other for decades, couples that knew each other for weeks, couples that barely spoke English. A couple that even requested she perform their vows like the Princess Bride clergyman with a speech impediment.

Being an officiant is one of the many roles Southwell takes on as county clerk. Her main duty is overseeing elections, her office handling everything from voter registration to recalls to counting ballots.

“I’m always busy,” Southwell said.

It’s a stressful job and despite election days only being once or twice a year Southwell is always working in preparation. So, marrying couples often during the last half hour of her workday is welcome.

She marries couples on the beach at nearby Don and Ann Davis Park; often people come from out of state to get married there. The summer months are especially booked.

People also get married inside a small room in the clerk’s office with decorations financed by Southwell herself. Inside the room there are string lights and cascading faux flowers. There’s even an altar and LED candles. Southwell even writes the vows she reads and – based on the couple – slightly alters them.

“I’m just such a hopeless romantic,” Southwell said.

After marrying so many couples Southwell can tell which ones will laugh or cry during the ceremony. Angelo and Brys were laughers. Half a dozen family members packed the small room, standing to the side and taking photos with their cell phones.

“Marriage is what you make it, so make it count,” Southwell said her vow book held open as she spoke to the couple under the altar. “Make it nimble, have fun, have lots of interest and always remember that you guys are in this together, and it’s up to you guys to create your own happily ever after – no one else.”

• Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, Newport, education, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]