While your wedding may be the happiest day of your life, it’s also likely one of the most stressful and expensive days of your life too.

That’s why, after a two-year engagement, Miriam Franklin-Tiller of Detroit joked, “I just wanted to get it over with!”

“Originally, we planned on getting married at the courthouse. I didn’t want a crowd; I wanted something quick and intimate,” she said.

But after finding out she could have the small wedding of her dreams at a cost similar to a courthouse wedding, Franklin-Tiller decided she wanted the best of both worlds.

Last year, the award-winning event planning company The Top Pic Collective started hosting an annual Mini Mony Day on February 14 – an event where local couples could spend only $100 for a luxury wedding ceremony. The cost included the venue rental, a 30-minute ceremony with an officiant, dressing rooms to get ready in, decorations and flowers, music, and seats for 15 guests.

Franklin-Tiller was able to have the quick, inexpensive wedding she wanted – without giving up her wedding dress, walking down the aisle, or being surrounded by all her favorite people.

“It was on Valentine’s Day – the day of love – and everything was included that you would have at a regular wedding. We were able to pick our own songs, and we could still have our first dance right after the ceremony. They offered bouquets, red and gold decorations, and a photography package. It was beautiful,” she said.

Five local couples got married during the first Mini Mony Day at Morenas Event Venue in Grand Rapids, and an additional couple got engaged. Now in its second year, Britney Hoskins, owner of The Top Pic Collective, has added a second location at The B Gallerie in metro Detroit and hopes this year’s event is even bigger and better than the first.

“I would love to set a record for how many people we can get married in one day,” she said.

Hoskins started The Top Pic Collective in early 2016 as a photo booth company before turning it into a full-service event management business three years later. Now – all in one place – customers can find a venue, decor, photo booths, DJs, photographers, catering, and event planning for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and more.

“I always knew I wanted to own my own business, and event planning was something I was really good at. I’m an extroverted person and being an event planner means I can be at a party, meeting new people, every single weekend. It’s the one job where you can be around people during the happiest moments of their lives. It’s intoxicating, and I love it!” she said.

Hoskins came up with the idea of Mini Mony Day because she knew, even if people could only afford to get married at a courthouse, they still deserved the wedding of their dreams.

“Typically, the number one reason people are going to the justice of the peace is for monetary reasons. But, when you get married at the courthouse, you have your witnesses, but your family isn’t there. It’s not quite how people envision their wedding day. Are you getting married or are you going to jail? But there’s clearly a market for it. So, I took that concept of making it quick and inexpensive while also still giving them a dream wedding,” she said.

Hoskins said a vendor has donated cake pops, so the couple can still feed each other cake after they recite their vows. The couple can also pick a maid of honor and a best man, and they can have the father of the bride – or another loved one – walk them down the aisle. Her goal is to give couples the most she can for their wedding day.

“We’re not treating them like they spent $100. I’m not doing Mini Mony Day for the money. Love is what pays my bills, and this is my way to give back to love,” she said.

Mini Mony Day will again be held on the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day – and couples can sign up for a half-hour slot between 2p.m. and 8 p.m. by visiting thetoppiccollective.com. Morenas is located at 4470 Breton Road SE, Kentwood and the B Gallerie at 21455 Melrose Ave, Building R, Suite 25, Southfield.

Participants are responsible for obtaining a marriage license prior to the ceremony. If there’s interest, Hoskins is also planning to host a dinner reception after the event for the couples and their guests.

For more information about The Top Pic Collective, follow them on social media at instagram.com/thetp_collective and facebook.com/TopPicPhotoBooth.