When Jessica Kozak challenged two good friends to tie the knot, she promised she’d perform the ceremony if they just did it.

They called her bluff.

So Mrs. Kozak, who has a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from the University of Toledo and is a bailiff in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, became ordained through the Universal Life Church, an online religious organization, and filed her ministerial license with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.

She’s taking the venture a step further this week as she opens Simply Married Ltd., a “simple but elegant” walk-in wedding chapel at 340 N. Erie St., catty-corner to the Lucas County Courthouse. Beginning Tuesday, Simply Married will offer wedding ceremonies, vows renewals, and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples.

“What we have here is kind of unique. There is nothing like this in Toledo. It’s a walk-in chapel. It just doesn’t exist,” Mrs. Kozak said. “We’re going to start with our standard vows and kind of listen to our clients and build from that because we’re new to this.”

She hopes her new business will appeal to couples who don’t have a church where they want to be married, don’t want a courthouse wedding, and don’t have the ability to do what she and her husband did — marry on an out-of-state beach.

“Had this existed at that time, I would have done it,” she said. “And that was kind of the jump-start of it: the personalization that I felt Toledo needed for a small place to get married that’s not the courthouse.”

She began pursuing the idea in earnest in February after learning that ministers who perform marriages in the courthouse were told they would no longer be allowed to offer their services there. An outcry from some judges and other officials led to the decision being rescinded, but Mrs. Kozak said her business has a niche to fill.

Located in a 600-square-foot section of a building owned by her father-in-law, Scott Kozak, the chapel features exposed brick walls, benches salvaged from another downtown building he owns, a hardwood floor, plenty of natural light, and a small preparation area for the bride. The chapel can seat 25 people comfortably.

Mrs. Kozak’s sister, Jenifer Haley, is the managing wedding officiant, staffing the chapel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when walk-ins can be married for a $75 fee. The chapel also is taking bookings on evenings and weekends for $175. Four are booked already — the first on Tuesday, she said.

The Rev. John Oliver, one of three ministers permitted to perform weddings inside the county courthouse, said he welcomes the new option, which he suspects will appeal to couples who want to marry at a future date rather than immediately.

“From my experience, the people who come through here on a daily basis, the majority of people are Michigan couples who want to get their marriage license, get married on the same day, in the same hour, and they’re on their way,” he said.

For more information, go online to simplymarried ltd.com.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published May 25, 2015, 4:00 a.m.