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Lots of love: Monday at the Marriage Bureau

By WTOP Staff

By Jamie Slater
Special to wtop.com

WASHINGTON — As Haley Harter walked to her first date with Philippe Chetrit, a bird pooped on her head.

What could have made an already-awkward situation worse was no big deal for the 31-year-old. “I knew it was good luck,” she says.

And it appears she was right. On a recent Monday afternoon nearly three years after that first date, the couple walked through the door of the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in downtown D.C. to apply for a marriage license.

And they were not alone.

Harter and Chetrit, 34, were just one of the 56 couples who came to the marriage licensing room on the fourth floor of the courthouse that warm April day.

Filled with cushy chairs and artwork, along with a selection of Ladies’ Home Journal and Gourmet magazines, the room doesn’t have the typical courthouse ambiance. Even the clerk, who processed all the applications on Monday, calls it a happy place.

During the 1 p.m. lunch hour, the room was swamped — one of the busiest days in a while, which the clerk attributed to the warmer-than-expected weather. From 2 p.m. to the office’s 4:30 p.m. close, there was a steady stream of applicants — but almost no one had to wait.

On average, the Marriage Bureau gets about 45 applications each day. Monday, April 14, was not the busiest day this year, though — 72 couples applied right after Valentine’s Day.

Everyone who gets married in D.C. comes to this room to apply for a marriage license — people of all races, ages and sexual orientations. And it’s not just D.C. residents: Engaged couples from all over the country, even the world, walk through these doors — many of them because they can’t get married elsewhere.

Some will wed at the courthouse, others in their parents’ backyards, and still more in churches or elegant venues. Despite all their differences, one thing unites them: They’re in love.

Wedding season kicks into high gear in May, making it a busy time of year at the Marriage Bureau.

Here are just a few stories from those who walk through the doors.

***

Keesha Reid, 26, and Jessica Hill, 24, met through a mutual friend five years ago. For the past two years, they have talked about getting married. They live in Montgomery, Ala., but they can’t get married there, so they came to D.C.

“It’s the closest place we can get married,” Hill says.

The couple prides themselves on being spontaneous — they talk fondly about the time they went to Florida together to go parasailing and jet-skiing, and the time they went to the Trey Songz concert. So it wasn’t out of character when, one day, Hill suggested they just drive to D.C. to save money on airfare.

At 10 p.m. on April 13, Reid, Hill and one of Hill’s friends left Montgomery and drove straight through the night, stopping only to fill up with gas three times. Thirteen hours later, they reached D.C., having spent only $40.

They drove back to D.C. for their April 28 court ceremony, and brought a few friends.

They plan to honeymoon in Florida for a week before they return to Montgomery for a small gathering with family and friends.

“I always wanted to visit D.C., and I guess this is a sweet, sweet way of visiting,” Hill says.

***

Darricka Orr-Lewis, 28, came to the courthouse to support her sister, Shamika Lewis, 29, as she filled out an application to marry her girlfriend, Sandra Freeman, 41.

This brought back memories for Orr-Lewis, who got married at the courthouse to then-girlfriend Corelle Orr, 36, in December. Both couples live in Richmond, Va., where they can’t get married.

As Sandra and Shamika filled out their paperwork, Darricka and Corelle shared their love story, which started when they were both in jail in 2005. Even though Corelle got out first in 2008, they remained friends by writing letters and passing messages through family until Darricka got out in 2012.

“We haven’t been apart since,” Corelle says.

When Sandra and Shamika get married in October, Darricka and Corelle will serve as best man and matron of honor, respectively. After, everyone will head back to Richmond for a reception at the Robinson Theater.

Darricka is excited for her sister.

“Married life is wonderful,” she says.

***

Peggy Duxbury, 54, is getting married for the first time at a courthouse ceremony. After meeting in graduate school in Boston and dating for 10 years, she and her fianc

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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