CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Judge Joe Benavides loves Valentine's Day.
In fact, the Justice of the Peace and former Marine loves love. His office has been offering free Valentine's Day weddings to couples in the Coastal Bend for more than a decade.
Approximately 15 couples were signed up to be married in his courtroom Wednesday, and the ladies in his office know how to make the building feel festive, sweet, and exciting.
Edward and Monica Lister were the first couple to take vows in Benavides' court this Valentine's Day. The pair was accompanied by Monica's daughters and grandchildren, who resemble her with shocking closeness.
One of Monica's daughters said she did her mother's hair before the wedding,
Benavides says it's couples such as the Listers, and their family, that keep him up and preparing for the free weddings each year. He spends time thinking about what he will say to couples before they say 'I do.'
Jokingly, he quips that he looks to the heavens for inspiration.
"I look at the stars and they have me put all these words together," he said. "I call them the 'words of wisdom,' " says Benavides.
The judge's words of wisdom for men preparing to wed?
"Surrender your wallet, surrender your keys, surrender anything that you have in your possession to your new wife," he said through laughter.
On a more somber note, Benavides said he urges newlyweds to keep lines of communication and trust open.
"This is the long haul," he said. "It's each of the couple - the bride and the groom -- trusting each other and talking about certain issues they have in their own selves; to believe in each other."
Benavides said that without that trust, it's a rough road ahead.
Monica and Edward are familiar with the ups and downs that come with relationships, but on Wednesday, they were all smiles and sparkling eyes, ready to make that leap.
"It is going to be a struggle in a relationship, but you just gotta know how to handle it the right way," Monica said. "Of course, arguments. fighting and stuff, but if you really love that person, you're willing to go through it with them no matter how hard or how easy it is."
Edward said he was excited to be with Monica on their first day as a married couple. When asked what he was specifically looking forward to after the ceremony, he took a moment to look at his new bride and answered, "Rest of my life."
That's a sentiment that Benavides supports.
"I'm so ready to do this," he said. "Very excited for the couples, and I want to reach out to every one of them . . . and let them know that I congratulate them and to believe in each other and to communicate. Leave those lines of the communications open."
When asked if he's ever seen couples express hesitation ahead of the nuptials, he said the answer is "No."
"Absolutely not," he said. "On Valentines Day, I'm the Cupid and we just continue on and we marry them and they're just so happy that they're here."
"I'm ready to go and I think the couples are going to be ready to go."
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