CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The New Year has barely begun and the Cook County Clerk has already issued the first marriage license of 2019. WBBM's Nancy Harty was there for the application and the wedding.
Kristina Skare and David Lakoskey got in line at the Cook County building at 5:15 a.m. Wednesday morning. Four hours later they were married.
The couple lives in Lincoln Park and have been together for nine and a half years. They did not decide until Monday that they would tie the knot Wednesday at the county building.
Karen Yarbrough did the honors, performing her first marriage as Cook County Clerk.
Skare, 42, said afterwards she was more nervous than she had expected.
"He had a very clear plan about what it would look like, and so I think I was just like alright, I think that could work then," Skare said.
As the first couple of the year, Kristina and David received gifts for a free hotel stay, dinner, dance lessons, flowers and other wedding presents donated from local businesses.