Niles couple renews vows every five years

Bill and Marie Weimer have been renewing their wedding vows every five years since they were married on June 26, 1985.

On Friday, the Niles couple celebrated their 30th anniversary — and seventh renewal — at Hope Community Church on Lake Street.

“There is so much divorce and we seem to have a pretty good marriage,” said Marie. “That is why all these years we’ve done that. We think it is neat.”

Marie first laid eyes on Bill at age 13 while ordering pizza from Pete’s Patio, where Bill worked at the time.

“He’d deliver the pizza to me. I’d say charge it to my dad, grab the pizza and slam the door in his face,” Marie said.

They would meet again several years later while volunterring at Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service.

They got married at the old Niles City Hall (Chapin Mansion) and have been renewing their vows ever since.

Renewals have taken place at Huntly Church, Leasure Valley, old city chambers, Riverfront Park, on a John Deere Gator at a SMCAS picnic and at Hope Church.

Bill is a member of the Niles City Council and Marie is a member of the city’s planning commission, among other things.