Whether you're falling for a waitress or have been planning a rally ceremony for months, plenty of businesses are ready to help your romantic side with rally flare - orange and black floral arrangements, Harley-Davidson garters, black stemmed toasting glasses, a veil that won't snarl in the Harley and even the motorcycle on top of the cake.

Roseanna Swenson, now Roseanna Brookhouser, has been to the Strugis rally for 10 years and before she left this year, she grabbed a dress and a few supplies from Kansas City and drove up for a shotgun wedding with fiance Eugene Brookhouser.

Swenson said she has always loved the scenery and simplicity of the Black Hills, and chose Roughlock Falls for her ceremony. Brookhouser's daughters, Nichole, 10, and Michelle, 9, of North Dakota served as witnesses to the Saturday ceremony and handed Swenson off to their dad.

"We're spending the honeymoon in a tent where it's freezing cold, but we love it," Swenson said.

Swenson found Jennifer Johns with Cloud 9 Weddings on a Black Hills Web site and Johns was the first officiator she contacted. Swenson said she was a little worried rally time would be difficult for a last-minute ceremony, but Johns was available.

Johns has officiated rally weddings since 2004, after she became ordained to marry her best friend. Johns officiates weddings all over the Hills, including at One-Eyed Jacks, the Full Throttle, the Jack Daniels tent and various campgrounds. Friday was her first wedding of the rally.

Couples should let campgrounds know the day of the ceremony, which are usually flexible with helping the bride and groom select a location and allow guests to enter the grounds. Some get more involved than others, Johns said, and help out with reception parties.

Tuesday of the rally is her busiest time, sometimes booking five or six ceremonies. Her record is 14 ceremonies in a week.

Rev. David "Lightning" Boyd has come to the rally for 12 years and performed ceremonies all over the Hills - even on the Crazy Horse Memorial.

"We can do it jumping out of the airplane, skydiving if that's what they want to do," Boyd said.

He travels to rallies throughout the year to perform ceremonies and became an independent ordained minister after retiring from the army. He specifically serves the biker community, he said.

The number of weddings Boyd performs in a day at Sturgis varies, but averages at six, he said. Couples usually hear about him by word of mouth from rallygoers.

After years of experience, he's ready for anything. It's nice to visit with the couple before the ceremony, Boyd said, but sometimes that doesn't work out.

Boyd has been riding since 1965 and rode from Kansas City to the rally on a Harley-Davidson Road King. He'll be in Sturgis for the duration of the rally.

"I like to see all the people and all the excitement and all the motorcycles. There's nothing like it - it's a unique thing - the most unique experience I've had," he said.

The Meade County Courthouse has traditionally authenticated rally weddings, but due to the heavy court workload, will not be performing ceremonies this year, according to the Meade County Clerk of Courts office. But there are plenty other officiators in the Hills to sign the license. Listings can be found with bridal shops, the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce or online.

At the Bridal Boutique & Prom, Muriel Roth has helped couples put together custom rally weddings for 15 years. Born and raised in Deadwood, Roth is full of ideas to help the bride and groom choose a location for the ceremony - and the honeymoon. She can even provide short-notice photographers and witnesses.

Located in Spearfish, Roth said Bridal Veil Falls is a popular nearby option, but so is a park gazebo or the Chapel in the Hills. She's done ceremonies as far away as Mount Rushmore.

The store has rally decor on hand to complete the ceremony from start to finish, with wedding dress tops that fit over leathers and just married signs for bikes.

"The signs for the back of the bike are biggie," Roth said.

The boutique can work with florists and bakeries to plan the wedding and bring everything needed to the ceremony location. Flowers can be arranged to match the colors of the bike, Roth said.

They limit the number of weddings they do each day to three or four so they can give the bride and groom enough attention and let them chose the time they want, Roth said, but when the boutique was located in Sturgis, she would do 30 weddings in a day.

All kinds of couples walk into her shop, Roth said, from the long-term couple to the impulsive romantics.

"I have done people who have been planning for six months, who actually have a wedding party arriving. I have people who stopped in last year who are going to get married this year. We've had them where they decided this morning," Roth said.

Couples can get in touch with the shop using their 800 number or coming in.

How to tie the knot at the rally

Apply for a marriage license at any South Dakota Register of Deeds office, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed weekends). Allow 15 minutes for paperwork.

Each partner must be present to apply and show proof of ID and age.

Accepted ID:

• 16-17: legal, certified birth certificate or valid driver's license and parent/legal guardian consent given in person with identification
• 18 and older: legal, certified birth certificate or valid driver's license

Bring cash only for a $40 fee.

Return the signed license to the Register of Deeds after it has been signed by the wedding officiator and two witnesses within 10 days after the wedding.

Couples applying for marriage must be a man and a woman.

Source: Meade County Register of Deed's Web page

WEDDING LICENSES AT MEADE COUNTY

2008-66

2007-79

2006-89