Weddings in strange public places

There is an interesting trend of couples choosing to celebrate their weddings in public places, instead of traditional places like churches or hotels. We’re not just talking about state parks, either. Don’t be surprised if you drive past your favorite fast food restaurant and find a couple saying “I do” as they wait for their value meals to be ready, or a pair of lovebirds at a makeshift altar in the goods aisle. sneakers from your local mega store. This is a look at weird public place weddings, the good, the bad, and the vulgar.

What would motivate a couple to celebrate their wedding in a store or restaurant instead of a private place? Frankly, I have no idea! Presumably, the bride and groom have some special attachment to the place; maybe they do all their shopping at Wal-Mart, and they think they might as well get married while they’re running errands (no bridesmaid gifts in the car aisle please!). Apparently, a wedding at Wal-Mart is especially popular with the staff. Why not have your marriage ceremony in the same place where you first met and fell in love, right? Your friends on staff can even attend your wedding while they work, how can you even consider that?

Then there are the fast food couples. You know, the ones who decide to commit to spending their lives together at a Taco Bell or a White Castle. I kid you not, people actually do this! Certainly catering would be convenient and inexpensive for the post-ceremony reception. Just be sure to avoid the lunch rush or there may not be enough seats for all the guests. Potential downsides to a fast food restaurant include the lack of a dance floor and trying to get that greasy scent off your wedding dress.

While not exactly conventional, a bookstore wedding somehow seems a bit fancier than one at a megastore or fast food restaurant. The often-cited reason behind a bookstore wedding is that it is the place where the couple met and fell in love. At least at Barnes and Noble or Borders, they have a few comfortable armchairs and usually decent lighting (no flickering fluorescent bulbs). Of course, there’s nowhere to sit for a grand reception, but your guests can probably sip a nice gourmet coffee and upload photos of your wedding to Facebook with the free Wi-Fi service in the cafeteria. In some ways, a bookstore wedding may not seem so strange, especially if it’s followed by dinner at a slightly more traditional venue, like a nearby restaurant.

There are sports fans, and then there are sports fans. For those true die-hard fans, having your wedding at your beloved team’s home stadium could be a dream come true. Actually, if you think about all the beautiful grass on a football field or the beautiful manicured lawn, a stadium wedding might not be much different than another type of outdoor wedding. Assuming you can access the stadium for your wedding, that is. I once saw a Baltimore Raven’s wedding take place on the field of their home stadium, and it was pretty fancy. If you can’t have your nuptials on the 50-yard line, perhaps an intimate wedding in one of the private boxes would be a good alternative. You can give your attendees gifts of personalized bridesmaid jewelry in team colors, and everyone could watch the game during the reception. Come to think of it, that’s one wedding I’d love to attend!