There are some events that remind you exactly why you chose to plant your roots in a community — and the second annual Vows on Valentine's Day ceremony at the William Travis Building in Historic Downtown Richmond was one of them. On February 14, 2026, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM, Fort Bend County Judges Dean Hrbacek and J. Christian Becerra opened the doors of one of Richmond's most storied civic buildings and invited couples from across the county to exchange or celebrate their marriage vows — completely free of charge — on the most romantic day of the year.

The William Travis Building sits in the heart of Historic Downtown Richmond, just steps from Morton Street, where so many of this community's most beloved traditions unfold. On Valentine's Day, that building became something even more meaningful: a gathering place for couples of all ages, backgrounds, and seasons of life to stand before their community and affirm the love that brought them together. Some couples were newlyweds. Others had been married for decades. All of them showed up with the same quiet intention — to mark the day with something more lasting than a dinner reservation.

What made the event so distinctly Richmond was its simplicity and sincerity. There was no ticket price, no corporate sponsorship, no VIP section. Just two county judges, a historic building, and a community that showed up in their Sunday best to celebrate love. The atmosphere was warm, unhurried, and genuinely moving — the kind of afternoon that sticks with you long after Valentine's Day decorations come down.

Now in its second year, Vows on Valentine's Day has quietly become one of the most charming traditions on the Fort Bend County calendar. It reflects something true about the character of Richmond: this is a place where civic leadership still feels personal, where a county judge personally officiating your wedding ceremony on Valentine's afternoon is not just possible — it's celebrated. That spirit of community-first thinking is exactly what has made Fort Bend County one of the fastest-growing and most sought-after places to live in all of Texas.

For the couples who gathered at the William Travis Building on February 14th, the ceremony was a reminder that the most important commitments in life deserve to be witnessed — not just by the people closest to you, but by the broader community that holds you up every single day.