Kimberly McGee

Fri, Feb 15, 2002 (7:53 p.m.)

Lovebirds flocked to Las Vegas this week in an annual romantic migration.

"Valentine's Day is easily the busiest time of the year for us," said Cheryl Vernon, supervisor for the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. "People arelined up at the door before we open (at 8 a.m.)."

Clark County averages 450 marriage license recordings each day. But on Valentine's Day that number rises to nearly 2,000, Vernon said, which makes Feb. 14 the most popular day for newlyweds in Las Vegas, followed by New Year's Eve.

The Sun caught some of the smiling faces and thoughts of a few couples as they left city hall gripping their freshly signed marriage licenses.

Hope Pickering and Brett Freeman, Clarksville, Ark.

How he proposed: "We were going to get married anyway and then we found out I'm pregnant," Pickering said. "So he brought home a baby book and inside was a wedding ring. It was romantic."

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "He's always wanted to come here," Pickering said. "Why not get married here? It makes sense."

Vada McPeters and Earl Rice, Long Beach, Calif.

How he proposed: "I came to her job with a big bouquet of roses and all these people followed me in to (the restaurant) where she worked to watch me propose," Rice said.

"There was a big bloom that was weighed down and inside was the ring," McPeters said.

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "We were going to be here anyway and its Valentine's Day," Rice said. "We used to live here and we think it's romantic here."

Masami Otsubo and Yoshiro Furukama, Tokyo and Los Angeles

How they met: "She came to America to see Disneyland and she met me. Six months later we are marrying on Valentines Day in Las Vegas," Furakama said.

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "The (Las Vegas) chapels are romantic, not so traditional like in Los Angeles. It's easy and very pretty here at night," Furukama said.

Cynthia Livingston and Dakota West, Augusta, Ga.

How he proposed: "He called me and I was packing to go move three hours away to live with him," Livingston said.

"I wanted her to know that this was more than just dating and I was serious," West said.

"So I told him to wait (on the phone) because someone was out the door," Livingston said. "It was him. He was on his cell phone, down on one knee."

Becky Keptner and Kenny Wharton, Queens, N.Y.

How they met: "I walked into a bar and saw her and I'm completely taken with her," Wharton said. "As soon as I saw her I knew I was in love."

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "(We met) December 8 and two weeks later we decided to (eventually) go to Las Vegas and get married," Keptner said. "It fit Las Vegas on Valentine's Day and getting married."

Tameka Burns and Darrell Parks, Fort Worth, Texas

How they met: "Her mother introduced us, but she didn't want me to date her," Parks said. "It worked out for us though. She likes me now."

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "It's Valentine's Day and this city is so nice with all the city lights. We knew it would be romantic and easy to celebrate here," Parks said. "What better place to get married than Vegas?"

Sarah Emenheiser and Jason Keeports, Loma Linda, Calif.

How they met: "Through church," Keeports said.

How he proposed: "We knew we were going to get married," Keeports said.

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "We are moving from Pennsylvania to California and we thought we'd stop in here and get married," Keeports said.

"We wanted to be on our way and Vegas is notorious for a quick way to get married. And it's a lot less expensive," Emenheiser said.

Jackie Ragsdale and Joe Holecek, Davenport, Iowa

How they met: "We've been friends all our lives," Ragsdale said.

"We met 30 years ago," Holecek said. "She's been wanting to get married."

How he proposed: "We were already visiting here and we were having dinner at the Top of the World restaurant (at Stratosphere) and he proposed," Ragsdale said. "It was romantic."

Elena Flores and David Astorga, Long Beach, Calif.

How they met: "Cupid brought us together," Flores said.

"We were playing darts," Astorga said.

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "It was a spontaneous thing," Flores said. "He knows Valentine's Day is important to me and so when he asked me a few weeks ago we both thought 'Let's go to Vegas.'"

Tami McKay and Michael Byrd, San Diego

How he proposed: "I came home from work and we were sitting on the balconyand the dogs were there and I got on one knee ..." Byrd said.

"I was in my underwear, crying (happy) tears when he did that," McKay said.

Why marry in Las Vegas: "We didn't realize it was Valentine's Day. We just wanted to get married and we had the time," McKay said.

"We have a ceremony planned for May 9 (at home) for our families, but this is just for us," Byrd said.

Donna McDonald and John Barron, Pittsburgh

How they met: "We met at a bar," McDonald said. "But neither of us drink."

"We each have three kids (six total) and we were single parents," Barron said. "We had a lot in common."

Why marry in Las Vegas?: "Number seven is on the way," McDonald said.