Eight couples get hitched on Valentine's Day

Albert and Teri Masterton hadn't planned to get married in Carson City on Saturday.

The Tulare, Calif., couple encountered winter weather in the Sierra and decided that the Carson City Courthouse would suffice for their Valentine's Day nuptials.

"Our plan was to get married in Reno, but we had such a horrific time getting up the hill, we came here," Teri said. "The people here were so nice, and we were so frazzled."

The Mastertons were the fourth couple to be married by Justice of the Peace Robey Willis that morning, and four more were waiting in the hall outside. Willis has presided over many Valentine's Day weddings in his 18 years on the bench.

As the couple stood in front of Willis and he was about to begin the ceremony, the wife-to-be had a special request.

"Leave out the 'obey,'" she said.

"We took that part out because the men got tired of obeying," Willis responded with a laugh.

After the I dos and kiss, the Mastertons were heading back to California before the next snowstorm moved in.

For Chris and Renee Hovan, the courthouse was just a couple of blocks away from their home.

"I just got promoted, and it's the last weekend I'll have off for a while," Chris said. "It was just circumstances more than anything."

The Carson City couple are both managers at Wal-Mart.

"A Wal-Mart romance," Renee laughed nervously.

"She's trying to hold back the waterworks," Chris said.

"That's because we love each other so much," Renee replied.

As other couples and their families lined the halls, the Hovans awaited their turn to say their vows.

"It' just a bunch of crazy people who said, 'hey let's get hitched on Valentine's Day,'" Chris laughed.