Area couple possibly regrets planning golf course wedding during Obama vacation

Here at The Washington Post (dot com), I usually write about things likecoloring books and barnyard animals. "Write what you know!" I say to myself, before churning out more hot haunted sword content.
Except today. Because today, I'm writing about a bride and groom whose wedding in Hawaii was relocated because of President Obama's golf game.
Sigh.
Do you know what I know about weddings? I know that Dan Bylsma once appeared on "Say Yes to the Dress." (He was the Penguins coach, guys. I actually know a lot about hockey! Can we talk about that instead? Oh.)
And … that is basically it. Oh, that, and the fact that if something can go wrong on a wedding day, it probably will. Because, come on. Everyone knows this.
But don't worry: The story of Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr.'s wedding day disaster actually has a nice ending.
Their ceremony was relocated because the president wanted to play atKaneohe Klipper Golf Course during his holiday in Hawaii, according to reports. Bloomberg reports that the couple found out about the conflict a day before the scheduled event, which, yes, is not exactly ideal.
The AP reported that "a person familiar with the incident" said the White House "didn't learn about the conflict until after the fact."
Did I mention that Heimel and Mallue are both members of the military?
And, oh yes, according to Bloomberg, they had actually invited Obama, because why not, I guess?
Aw, jeez. Yes. I know. It's not looking good. But stick with me.
"It was emotional, especially for her — she’s the bride and in less than 24 hours they had to change everything they had planned," Jamie McCarthy, Mallue's sister, told Bloomberg.
Bloomberg reports:
The golf course, located on the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, is a regular stop for Obama when he's in the state, with the Ko’olau Mountains framing the front nine and majestic views of Pacific coastline spanning the back nine. It's also a favorite spot for Mallue, a golfing enthusiast.
Still, anyone planning an event at the course when the president may be in town is warned about the potential for last-minute shuffling, said Naile Brennan, manager of K Bay Catering, which was handling logistics for the wedding. Brennan said they had other sites ready to go, and the couple ended up choosing the lush, green lawn near the home of Colonel Eric Schaefer, the commanding officer of the base, which offers an elevated view near the 16th hole.
"It's much prettier and much nicer venue unless you're an avid golfer," Brennan said. "It's more secluded and there are no golfers yelling, 'Fore!'"See! A happy ending! Just like I promised. And there's more — Bloomberg noted that Obama personally called the bride to apologize and offer his congratulations.
"We were all there, it was perfect," McCarthy told Bloomberg. "Made their day."

Confidential to the president: it looks like the couple is registered at Bed Bath & Beyond. You're welcome.

Duggar Family Year In Review: Weddings, Pregnancies, Scandals And Everything Else That Happened In 2014

This year has been a big one for the Duggar family of TLC’s reality-TV series “19 Kids and Counting.” With everything from weddings, to pregnancy announcements and even a few scandals, the Duggars have their work cut out for them in the New Year if they want top 2014.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar had their first daughter walk down the aisle in 2014. In June, Jill, 23, wed Derick Dillard, 25, after six months of courting. The couple, who saved their first kiss for their wedding day, said their vows in front of over 1,000 guests in Springdale, Arkansas, June 21. Their wedding was featured on a special episode of “19 Kids and Counting” in October.
Less than two months after Jill tied the knot, Jessa and her now-husband Ben Seewald, 19, announced their engagement. The couple of one-year married at the First Baptist Church of Bentonville, Arkansas, Nov. 1. Similar to her sister, Jill, their wedding was also an elaborate affair. Their wedding will be featured on Season 9 of “19 Kids and Counting” when the series returns to TLC in 2015. In the meantime, fans can check out a sneak peek video of their lavish affair.
Honeymoon
Following their unique nuptials, Ben and Jessa went overseas to celebrate their honeymoon. The couple was spotted visiting the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame during their trip to Paris, France. Star Magazine reported that TLC cameras were on hand to capture their first trip as newlyweds which has raised some speculation that their honeymoon could be featured on a future episode of "19 Kids and Counting."
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar learned that they would be welcoming not one, but two grandchildren, in 2014. In August, Jill announced she and Derick were expecting their first child just two months after their wedding. The duo has since confirmed they will be welcoming a baby boy in March.
In November, Michelle and Jim Bob’s oldest child Josh and his wife Anna, both 26, hinted they might be expecting baby no. 4 on the family’s TV series. Just two weeks after Anna's pregnancy test came back negative on the show, the couple announced they were expecting another child due in June 2015. The new baby will join their other three children, Mackynzie, 5, Michael 3, and Marcus, 1.
Mission trip
This year, the Duggar family headed to El Salvador for their 2014 mission trip. The clan ended their getaway with a quick stop to the beach. “Trips like this are such a reminder of the many things we enjoy- even small things that we take for granted- but most of all it is a reminder of the deep joy it is to give and love and serve others,” Jim Bob and Michelle wrote on Facebook Dec. 19.
This year has not been kind to the Duggar family in the way of scandals. Following Jessa’s wedding day, one of her guests alleged that the reality star and her college beau were allegedly caught consummating their marriage inside the church immediately following their nuptials. The drama continued on social media when Jessa posted a steamy photo of her sharing a kiss with her new husband on Instagram.
And the scandals didn’t stop with Jessa. In an effort to support their daughter, Jim Bob and Michelle posted a similar kissing photo to their Facebook page. After receiving positive feedback for their image, they decided to create a kissing photo challenge for their fans. Thousands of viewers shared their submissions, but a controversy ensued when a few same-sex couples claimed there images were deleted from the challenge and that they had been promptly banned from the Duggar family's page. Jim Bob and Michelle responded to the accusations by posting a Bible verse about standing for truth.
After the religious family was accused of being anti-gay, an old petition requesting TLC to cancel “19 Kids and Counting” found a new audience. The petition, which first came about after Michelle was heard asking native Arkansas residents to vote against at anti-LBGT law, received hundreds of thousands of signatures. Jim Bob responded to the petition by denouncing his critics and stating that the petition controversy had only granted his family more exposure.

And it wasn’t just outsiders the Duggars faced this year. After Jana admitted to having a childhood feud with Jessa, another scandal erupted when it was speculated that Jessa and Jill were going head-to-head behind-the-scenes. After it was discovered that Jill did not follow Jessa on Twitter, reports of an alleged feud between the sisters starting brewing. In the past months, the siblings have been rumored to be fighting over everything from the size of their homes, to Jill’s pregnancy. Jessa most recently responded to the rumors on Christmas, posting a special message to Jill on Instagram.

Couples find new ways to include their kids in the wedding

When Angelina Jolie wed Brad Pitt in one of the most publicized nuptials of the 21st century, she wore a jaw-dropping silk and satin gown designed by Donatella Versace. Embroidered on her floor-length veil were colorful drawings by the couple's six children. One even read "Buttock Fatock."
Eldest sons Maddox and Pax walked Jolie down the aisle, daughters Zahara and Vivienne tossed flower petals, and daughter Shiloh and son Knox were ringbearers. Pax baked the wedding cake.
It all sounds very Hollywood. But it's not just Brangelina.
Many brides and grooms have children from previous relationships and are going beyond the traditional to find ways to incorporate them into their weddings.
Yes, the kids add cuteness. But it's often more about blending families.
"The need to create a family bond early is vital to stepparents' success," says Stacey James Wheeler, a California family dynamics researcher and author, whose wife had two daughters when they married more than 12 years ago. "Involving the children in our marriage was a great way to do that."
The girls were flower girls, and they received an engraved locket and a verbal commitment from Wheeler after he proposed to their mother.
"I let them know I was committing to be there as a parent and to raise them as my own," he says.
Like Jolie and Pitt's brood, many children take part in the ceremony as flower girls, ring bearers and readers, while others walk their mother down the aisle.
Children also can help light a unity candle or participate in what's become known as a sand ceremony, in which the bride, groom and children pour different-colored sand into a container to symbolize a new union.
San Francisco physician Kyra Bobinet and her fiancé, Josh Leichter, designed wedding bands with a diamond for each of their four children.
"Our kids will be our only bridesmaids and groomsmen, setting them apart as special attendants to the wedding," Bobinet says. "We're inviting them to offer words of support for our partnership, so it gives them a voice and a choice in the matter."
Instead of having a traditional processional, event planner Sandy Sloane and her husband, Bob Czworka, danced down the aisle with their four children to the song Love Is Strange. All four kids stood with them under the Jewish chupah, or canopy, during their ceremony in Sunrise and at the reception sang a song written by two of them.
"I gave my daughter and two 'bonus daughters' necklaces that said 'daughter,' and my son a commemorative keepsake box," Sloane says.
Chicago-area event planner Amanda Morris created a semi-sweetheart table for a newly married couple and their 4-year-old daughter. The little girl sat between her mom and dad at the reception, and each sat in a chair with signs that read, "I'm his," "I'm hers" or "I'm theirs."
Morris also created a "favorite things" station instead of a traditional dessert table. "What was cute is that it even had items like mini Heinz ketchup packets and Starbucks pink cake pops because their daughter loved both," she says.
Cupcake stations are another kid-friendly dessert idea. The children of the bride and groom can play host and help other kids decorate cupcakes during the reception.
And then there's the first dance. Not between bride and groom, but between each of them and their children and/or stepchildren.

"Make sure to bring the tissues," says wedding planner Stephany Allongo in Palm Beach, Florida. "This is usually a tearjerker."

Lance Bass and Michael Turchin's wedding aimed for 'royal vibe'

Lance Bass and artist Michael Turchin were married Saturday -- and the N'Sync alum was more than happy to share details about the big day.
"We wanted our wedding to be full of elements that we grew up with and things that we learned from our parents," Bass told People. "It's all about one generation passing on to the next generation how to do things."
That said, the evening was not exactly 100% traditional.
About 300 guests -- down from an original guest list of 750 -- showed up for the nondenominational ceremony at L.A.'s Park Plaza Hotel, which Bass said had a "royal vibe."
The wedding party included the couple's three dogs, plus supermodels as flower girls, Bass told the mag. Hey, he said, they didn't want to hurt any feelings by narrowing it down to a a few bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Actresses JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Jamie-Lynn Sigler officiated a ceremony that included nods to the grooms' Jewish and Baptist backgrounds. Yup, there was a chuppah. N'Sync pal JC Chasez sang during the first dance -- taking the torch from Jordin Sparks, the couple's first pick, who couldn't be there.
The guest list reportedly included Lisa Vanderpump, Cheryl Burke and boy-band buddies Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick.
N'Sync missing link Justin Timberlake couldn't make the party, however: He was in Atlanta that night as part of his "20/20 Experience" tour, which wraps with shows in Las Vegas on Jan. 1 and 2.
Color seems to have been an important element in the celebration, which was coordinated by Sharon Sacks, who also did Kim Kardashian's wedding to Kanye West.
"We didn’t just want the typical white flowers everywhere," Turchin said. "We wanted it to be masculine so we chose these dark, rich, red and purple flowers with a lot of dark green mixed in."
The couple was hoping guests would have fun getting dressed for the event and seeing the pictures afterward.
"We said, 'Imagine you are going to a royal wedding but at the Met Ball,'" Bass told People last week.
Of course, the push to pump up the fashion may have been fueled by an ulterior motive: The event will be featured in a Feb. 5 wedding special on the E! network -- and color always looks better on camera.
Bass acknowledged a higher-profile same-sex wedding that happened over the weekend: that of Elton John and David Furnish.

"So honored to share the same anniversary weekend as these two!," he said Monday on Instagram, posting a photo of himself with Turchin next to one of Furnish with John. "They have worked so hard changing the minds of so many making it possible for myself and countless others to get married. #LoveIsLove#lancelovesmichael."

Living wake becomes surprise wedding

About a week ago Liza Heaton, 25, received the prognosis — the young woman from Shreveport had less than one month to live.
A rare cancer that affects young people, synovial sarcoma, had returned to her body after three years of remission. The disease was back and more aggressive than ever, and a gastrointestinal obstruction would prevent treatment.
Oncologists at Johns Hopkins cancer center recommended hospice and palliative care.
When Heaton's family in Shreveport shared the news of Liza's prognosis, more than 100 friends and family members from around the country flocked to her side to spend last hours together.
Rather than play host to her own living wake, Heaton turned a final gathering into a large-scale celebration — her wedding.
Liza and her new husband, Wyatt Heaton, had talked briefly about getting married after they learned the cancer had returned on Thanksgiving Day.
It wasn't until last week that doctors explained how little time Liza had left.
"When they said it would not be months, but weeks, I took that to mean a wedding was off the table," Liza said. "Wyatt took it to mean, OK, we have to get married this weekend."
The two decided to get married last Thursday, and they were married Saturday at Liza's aunt and uncle's house on Cross Lake.
The surprise ceremony was disguised as a lakeside fish fry, a chance for everyone to get together in one place to spend time with Liza.
"We had 150 people. Tons came in from out of town — from all areas of my life," she said. "From summer camps, college, friends from Atlanta, Baltimore. It was amazing. That's how I wanted to spend my time."
The couple said spirits were high at their wedding despite the circumstances.
"I wanted that day to be about the wedding, not about cancer. We still thought at the time it may be my last week, so I wanted it to be about the wedding and about love," Liza said.
The wedding was a success, Wyatt said. Liza was strong despite going from about 30 minutes a day out of bed to "eight hours of straight partying."
"I kept thinking, she needs to be on her fluids, but her dad said, 'No. She's having the time of her life,'" Wyatt said.
The day after the wedding, the obstruction that prevented Liza's treatment cleared. Oncologists prescribed a chemotherapy pill to halt the progression of the tumors.
"The hope is that the pill will stop the tumors, and in the spring she can join a trial and treat the cancer," said Liza's mother, Michelle Haynie. "The chemo pill could even shrink it."
Liza said she wants it to be known she no longer is in hospice care, and her treatment is not considered palliative.
She is fighting.
Her father, Dr. Richard Haynie, said the trial Liza will participate in is with a new drug that is working well on other tumors.
This week stands in stark contrast to last week in the Haynie household, where Liza and Wyatt are waiting out the illness surrounded by family.
"Last week we were thinking hospice. Only a few weeks left. Then with this chemo pill we weren't given a time frame. We're hopeful to beat it again and go into remission and spend the rest of our lives together," Liza said.
A seeming second chance inspired the Haynie family to start a GoFundMe campaign online to raise money for the Johns Hopkins-hosted "Love for Liza Fund" to further research for the rare disease.
The family did not expect the overwhelming response.
In about 24 hours, the fund had received close to $200,000. Friday, contributions were more than $280,000 of the $500,000 goal.
Liza said she is overwhelmed both by the money and the support of family and friends who have donated, sent gifts, cards and paintings.
"Someone got Lance Armstrong to call me last night. It was unbelievable. It's humbling to know so many love you and care about you and are willing to stand up for you," she said. "And now looking at the donations, there are people I don't even know."
Liza hopes her story, which the generally private young woman reluctantly tells in order to raise money for the disease's research, inspires others with negative prognoses to stay strong and to hold onto hope.

"Maybe it will turn around, and if it doesn't, enjoy what you have. Enjoy the time you have left," she said. "

Jason Kennedy and Lauren Scruggs Share New Wedding Details: "I Honestly Thought I Was Going to Lose It"

A woman always dreams of her wedding day, and it was no different for Lauren Scruggs when she married E! News co-host Jason Kennedy, but in an interview withPeople, Kennedy confesses he had also been thinking about it for a long time!
"This is a moment I imagined happening my whole life," he tells the magazine. "It just felt so right with Lauren..."
Kennedy opens up even more about his Dallas wedding to Scruggs and says that he had to try not to cry while standing on the altar.
"I honestly thought I was going to lose it," he admits. "My groomsmen were giving me a hard time. They were like, 'Don't do the ugly baby cry!'"
But when he saw his bride walking down the aisle to Amos Lee's "Sweet Pea," the 33-year-old couldn't help but get a lump in his throat.
"I was just trying to not completely cry my eyes out," he says.
Scruggs, 26, was just as swept up in her emotions as her now-husband. Still elated by how many people attend the wedding, which took place at the Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas, Scruggs gushes about her dream wedding.
"The whole night was surreal," she shares. "Everyone came to celebrate with us...and the effort that people made was so special."
But right before the two were about to get hitched, there was an emergency! Kennedy's mother fell and dislocated her hip while getting ready for her son's big day, and subsequently had to be sent to the hospital.
"She was rushed to the emergency room and it took two surgeons to get her hip back in place," Kennedy explains, adding that he was told about her accident only two hours before the ceremony began. Worried that she wouldn't be able to make it, Kennedy got the surprise of a lifetime.
"Minutes before they opened the door for me to walk down the aisle with the pastors, my mom comes around the corner in a wheelchair with my dad pushing her," he says.
What a trooper!
Her grateful son tells the magazine that she still looked like "a million bucks" despite her impromptu trip.
Of course, now that they have officially tied the knot, Kennedy admits that they're already facing pressure to give their parents grandkids, but they're insistent on spending time enjoying one another.
"For now we just want to enjoy being newlyweds and traveling and exploring a bit," he reveals.
"It hasn't sunk in," Scruggs adds, talking about married life with her husband. "But it's the most amazing feeling to be his wife. It feels like a gift to me, to be Jason's wife, and I can't wait to see what's to come."

Before they set off on their incredible honeymoon, the couple and guests got to nosh on a delicious meal of butternut squash soup with cinnamon cream and fish with risotto and root vegetables. Of course, who can leave a wedding without some cake?! The gorgeous dessert was designed by Fancy Cakes by Lauren.

Lauren Scruggs, E!’s Jason Kennedy were married Friday night in Las Colinas

Lauren Scruggs, working out with her physical therapist Sheri Walters at Athletes Performance in Frisco last year
At this very moment Lauren Scruggs, the Plano fashion writer who lost her left hand and left eye when she walked into a small plane’s propeller in December 2011, is on her honeymoon in Mexico.
She was married Friday night in Las Colinas, at the Four Seasons, to E! News co-host Jason Kennedy. And nothing about this wedding sounds small. The twosome, dating since the summer of 2013 and engaged in early summer, were married by two pastors: local Matt Chandler of The Village Church and out-of-towner Judah Smith. And a third — Rich Wilkerson Jr., who, according to E!, married Kim Kardashian and Kanye West — served as was Kennedy’s best man.
Oh — and a certain Dallas Cowboys quarterback was in attendance, just two days before becoming the first player in the history of the National Football League with four consecutive road games of three touchdowns and no interceptions. Tony Romo brought wife Candice and their 2-year-old son Hawkins, who served as the ring-bearer. Also on the guest list: Kathie Lee Gifford, as well as other faces familiar to people who watch E! for more than The Soup.
The wedding came just three years after Scruggs spent Christmas in the intensive care unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital, after she walked into a plane’s propeller at the McKinney airport following a Christmas-light tour. She recounted the incident, and life after, in a book titled Still LoLo published in 2012. Our Sarah Mervosh recounted Scruggs’ path to recovery in this award-winning 2013 profile.

“Jason has completely changed my life, and I could not be more thankful for who he is and how he loves me,” she told E! (who else). “I can’t wait to spend forever with him.”

Couples covet 12/13/14 wedding date

More than 20,000 couples in the United States will get married Saturday, according to a David’s Bridal poll, nearly three times the number of couples who wed on that same weekend last year.
The reason: It’s a day for the record books – 12/13/14 – the last sequential date of the century.
That specific mathematical matrimonial magic won’t happen again until Jan. 2, 2103, or 1/2/03.
Charity Deere-Fitchett and James Wilson didn’t realize the significance of the date at first when they planned their Wichita wedding Saturday.
“I think we got even more excited when we realized it,” Deere-Fitchett said Friday, the day before she became Charity Wilson.
The date did come with some aggravation, she said.
“Do you know how hard it was to find a place?” she asked, laughing.
Ana Betancourt and Ascension Rojas of Wichita “absolutely” chose the date on purpose.
“I just wanted it to be memorable,” Betancourt said of their future anniversary.
Booking a reception place, Abode Venue, was one of her first tasks
“That was the first thing I booked because I knew it was going to be a popular date,” she said.
Years in the making
Online discussion boards frequented by brides-to-be lit up more than two years ago with breathless chatter about what the New York Post has declared “this year’s wedding status symbol.”
The marketing potential wasn’t lost on some wedding destinations that played up the hype with special offers like the Lucky in Love package at the Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta. One Caribbean resort offered the Sequential Love & Legacy.
Special deals flooded out of Las Vegas, the self-proclaimed “marriage capital of the world” where lucky numbers count for everything.
The MGM Grand offered couples a “numerology package.” Caesars Palace offered a chapel ceremony complete with two buffet lunches for $1,213.14.
Vegas tourism officials report that many of the city’s wedding chapels are booked up for Saturday. The most popular ceremony time? Thirteen minutes and 14 seconds past noon. That would be 12:13:14.
“Numerically quirky” dates, as the wedding planning website The Knot calls them, make many brides salivate. Hilton’s fiancee had actually eyed another unique date for their wedding – May 10, 2015, or 5/10/15 – “but I didn’t want to wait almost two years to marry her,” he said.
Palindromes prompt particular palpitations. And guaranteed there will be a rush on Jan. 2, 2034 – or 1/2/34.
The acknowledged biggest day ever for weddings was July 7, 2007 – lucky 7/7/07.
(For the record, The Knot advises brides to consider avoiding some of the calendar’s more dicey dates, including unlucky Friday the 13th and that pesky Ides of March.)
‘It’s meant to be’
Paige Ward and Phil Jones of Kansas City, Kan., are getting married Saturday in Lawrence, but the date sort of chose them. They were dating when they went to a wedding together on 11/11/11.
“Someone asked when the next time a date like this would fall on a Saturday and Phil … quickly pulled out his phone to check,” said Ward, 27, a senior associate with Grant Thornton in Overland Park.
“He promptly announced to our table that the next Saturday would be on 12/13/14, and then he nudged me and said, ‘There ya go babe, we can get married on 12/13/14!’ We all laughed it off and went on with our night.”
But the date came back to them after they got engaged in June 2013 and went on a look-see at the Oread in Lawrence, a venue that Ward had her heart set on. The hotel, on the edge of the University of Kansas campus, has become a popular wedding venue since opening in 2010, and available reception dates were limited.
But then the hotel’s wedding director told them of one date that was open: 12/13/14.
Pure luck?
“Phil’s jaw dropped as he turned to look at me,” Ward said. “He said, ‘Do you remember that conversation we had on 11/11/11 at so-and-so’s wedding? It’s meant to be! Plus, I’ll never forget our anniversary, but if I do, Christmas is just around the corner.’”

5 Of The Most Shocking Duggar Moments: Season 9, '19 Kids And Counting,' Jessa And Jill Duggar Break Family Dating Rules

Watching the Duggar family on "19 Kids and Counting" is a lot like Christmas. You know what to expect but once in a while, a few surprises are thrown in to shock you.
As the children are growing older and finding young love, the series has gone from conservative to questionable, with several scenarios played out that even the most die-hard Duggar fans didn't see coming.
Here are the Top 5 Most Shocking Duggar Moments From Season 19.
1. Jill Gives Derick A Full Body Hug
Derick Dillard and Jill Duggar had been courting long-distance for several months as Derick finished up his missionary work in Kathmandu. Jill and the entire Duggar family went to meet Derick at the airport with signs and balloons. Jill was so excited to see Derick that she forgot all about proper Duggar protocol and gave her beloved a full on chest-to-chest hug. Realizing her mistake, she quickly pulled away and gave him a side hug instead.
2. Jessa's Boyfriend Ben Moved In
In an attempt to be a good dad Jim Bob Duggar allowed Jessa's boyfriend, Ben Seewald, to move into the family home so they could spend more time together. Ben lived many miles away and Jessa only saw him on alternating weekends. With Ben's parents' blessings, Ben Seewald moved in and Jim Bob put him to work doing odd jobs around the house to earn his keep.
3. Jill And Derick's Wedding Had Over 1,000 Guests
While most couples have a tough time getting 100 people to show up at their wedding, Jill and Derick had well over 1,000 guests at their June wedding. It took dozens of church volunteers to assist in the mammoth preparation for the large-scale event. Part of their job included making more than 600 cupcakes, 3,000 chocolate-chip cookies and 3,000 root-beer floats for guests to enjoy. Tables were divided into sweet and salty snacks and more than 100 immediate family members were in attendance, as were guests from more than 30 states.
4. Cousin Amy Left Arkansas For Nashville
When you're a Duggar, you are likely going to stay close by your extended family. Eldest son Joshua Duggar moved to Washington, D.C. for a job, but most of the other Duggar children have stayed close by their parents. Amy Duggar, the daughter of Jim Bob Duggar's sister, left the family fold and headed to Nashville to try and make it as a country music singer. Amy does not subscribe to the Duggar tradition of modesty, so her break out from the family was scandalous to say the least.
5. Eldest Daughter Jana Treated Like Family Cinderella

Jana Duggar, the eldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle, may now be involved with professional football player Tim Tebow, but she is normally treated like the family Cinderella. She was recruited to make over one dozen bridesmaids dresses for sister Jill's wedding, and is usually the "mother" of the youngest Duggar children while her parents are away on business or working within the home. Quiet Jana rarely complains, even when asked to alter the dresses while the other Duggar girls giggled nearby.

Widow drops wedding rings, note in Salvation Army kettle

A widow slipped her diamond engagement ring and wedding band into a Salvation Army red kettle outside North Station Wednesday without raising suspicion, even from the man ringing the bell.
Salvation Army officials said they were stunned — and grateful for her generosity. The engagement ring was valued at $1,850, according to an appraisal that the woman included with her donation.
“In addition to money, I’ve seen watch batteries, paper clips, safety pins, all sorts of strange things, but this one takes the cake,” said Lieutenant Michael Harper, commander of the Cambridge Salvation Army. He added that the rings’ value was the largest donation he’s
ever seen dropped into a red kettle.
The rings were donated along with a note honoring the benefactor’s late husband.
“I’ve dropped my wedding ring in your Red Kettle knowing that the money from its sale will buy toys for needy children,” the woman wrote. “In all seasons, my husband was a giver. I especially remember his joy in giving at Christmastime, especially to those in need. To honor his memory, I donate this ring.”
She went on to say that she hopes someone will purchase the ring for “ten times its worth,” since “there’s no price on love or the sentimental value of this ring.”
The appraisal did not address the value of the wedding band.
The organization said the donations they receive pay for meals, toys, and other support for children, families, and seniors across the state, as well as provide funding for food pantries, soup kitchens, social services, and education programs year-round.
“We were stunned,” Harper said. “We were really taken aback. One, by such generosity of something that was a deeply sacrificial gift, and something that was probably priceless to her. ... But then we didn’t know if she was giving out of sadness for her husband, or if it gave her great joy.”
Harper said that although the organization will not actively try to find the woman, he would like to meet her — even if it was privately — to tell her how grateful he is.
As for selling the rings, Harper did not know the next step.
“This is, like, one of those precedent-setting things, so we don’t necessary have a protocol to turn to,” he said.
The appraisal was from 2003, so commercially, the engagement ring may be worth more or less than $1,850.
But considering the “challenge of sorts” that the woman made — with her hope for a buyer who could spend 10 times the rings’ worth — Harper said the organization may consider other ways of selling the jewelry.
The Salvation Army’s statewide red kettle goal this year is $3.36 million.

The anonymous donor did give some clue to part of her motivation, writing a short proverb at the bottom of her note: “To find out what a man is worth, take away his money and his possessions.”

Stuffs' wedding of the week

Forty-eight-year-old contact centre team manager Leonie (Lee) and 41-year-old capability development advisor Dena didn't let a little rain get them down on the day. They tied the knot in a simple yet beautiful ceremony at the Cossars Wineshed, Canterbury, followed by some quirky photographs shot around the Christchurch rebuild.
But we'll let Lee spill all the romantic details . . .
How did you meet?
Dena told the story as part of her wedding speech.
"Lee crashed a barbecue at my house in 2010 and I didn't like her much," she said.
"But later, over a particularly good chicken dopiaza, things changed and I realised I had found 'The One'."
Tell us about the proposal: We had returned from a fantastic holiday in Melbourne in 2012, where we had spotted some rings by Jeanie Alderton.
Dena had to wait to have hers made and when it arrived at my work I came home, threw the bag at Dena and said: "Do you want to be my missus?" That was it!
Later I proposed in a slightly more appropriate way, down on one knee with white roses from our garden. The proposal was accepted – all whilst Dena was standing in the driveway spraying weeds.
Location of wedding: Cossars Wineshed in Tai Tapu, Canterbury.
WANT YOUR WEDDING TO BE FEATURED HERE?
Describe your wedding day: Dena and I stayed at The Heritage Hotel the night before, and picked up best babe Denise (my big sister) for hair and makeup on the morning of the big day.
Janine Jansen did a fabulous job with our "dos" as the champagne flowed. Following that, the MAC makeup counter at Ballantynes made us look and feel beautiful. We walked back to the Heritage in the December sun to meet Dena's best babe, David, and to dress.
Our photographer Emma Scott arrived and we took some fantastic shots around the vintage hotel and the ever-changing Christchurch CBD. We were then collected in a friend's vintage Holden Kingswood to travel out to Tai Tapu. We stopped for more pictures at Halswell Quarry but the weather gods had other ideas! There was such a rush to get everyone back into the Kingswood that we steamed up the windows!
The ceremony took place in Cossars' beautiful barn and our celebrant, Sean Joyce, brought solemnity, humour and joy to our nuptials. He included our UK friends who Skyped into the ceremony and had got up at 3:30am just to be there!
The reception featured beautiful food by White Tie catering, yummy table desserts, moving speeches and a lot of laughter before dancing and sparklers well into the night.
The dress: Two brides mean two dresses. My work team took me shopping and I found a style that made me feel beautiful. Dena looked for a classic style. Both dresses were purchased overseas from different stores but arrived in the exact same colour and fabric – perfect.
The flowers: The reception flowers were candy pink roses, freesias and green chrysanthemums provided by Moffats. The best flowers were the handmade paper ones used as garlands in the wedding barn and reception hall. Hundreds of them were made by our friends over three afternoon teas - it was their gift to us and they looked stunning!
Highlight of the wedding: We both had a "Perfect Day" and used this song by Holley Maher when signing the register. We could not have asked for more than a day surrounded by love, laughter, beautiful friends, food, wine and music, and this is exactly what we got!
Was there any drama? After a so-so day of weather, it rained 10 minutes before the outside ceremony was due to start. The Cossars and White Tie team threw Plan B swiftly into action, and we married inside the barn festooned with our paper garlands and candles. The cloud cleared afterwards and we could meet and greet in the stunning French provincial-style courtyard.
The honeymoon: Due to so much of my family coming over from Australia, we spent the week after the wedding with them touring Queenstown, Wanaka and Dunedin. T-shirts were printed for us all with the words "Cowen-Willis Familymoon 2013". We're planning on a relaxing break in a warm climate sometime in mid-2015.

Your photographer and favourite photo? Our photos were taken by Emma Scott from The Wedding Collective. We love the picture of us together in the Heritage Hotel laughing, and the shots in the pastel-coloured New Regent St, Christchurch.

Xzibit Catches DUI Charge On His Wedding Night

Over the weekend, Xzibit exchanged vows with now wife, Krista Joiner, during a ceremony near Laguna Beach, California. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it home that night to carry his new bride over the threshold. According to TMZ, the former “Pimp My Ride” host was arrested after partying with his new bride at the reception, which was held at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, early Sunday morning.
Apparently, the 40-year-old was pulled over for speeding and officers smelled alcohol on his breath. As a result, he was arrested and taken to the station. He was later released and although his DUI threw a bit of a boomerang in his wedding night plans, he still took to Instagram to gloat about how lovely his ceremony was and how much he loves his wife. His post reads:
“Yesterday was our wedding day. It was nothing short of amazing. We were surrounded by friends and family and had an outstanding ceremony. It was not tainted by negative energy and I made sure it stayed that way. There was a time I thought I would NEVER get married.
I thought that being single was the only way for me, not knowing that I was giving up more of myself to people who didn’t care about me or love me unconditionally. I had to do a LOT of growing up and over time came the maturity I needed to be able to make a commitment stronger than anything that I have done in my life outside of being a father to my two beautiful sons. Yesterday, I made my family complete. I had to realize that I am not perfect and I don’t always do the right thing, but when I was standing there, watching it all unfold, the only thing I could think about was, I am worthy of being a husband and she deserves the world and the security that comes from being a wife.
I have no regrets about my past, the good and the bad. But now,this is my future. My sons needed to see that. They now have an example to reference in life when it comes to being a man and how to treat a real woman when you find her, or in my case where she puts up with your bullsh-t until you come around..lol.
Thank you to the groomsmen and bridesmaids who made the day go so well, thank you to the wedding planner who made our day feel and look like a movie,(details details) @bignutellapb for keeping the idiots out and making sure we had no problems. @curtchambers Put together a band that rocked like you wouldn’t believe, couldn’t have asked for a better moment.

So now what? Well, we go forward, take the good with the bad and make room for blessings. Before I got married, some of my homies asked me if I was nervous, I said ‘you’re only nervous when you’re not sure.’ Keep it pushing ladies and gents, cause I’m going forward.”

Look Who it is! Roger Daltrey, the impromptu wedding singer: Rock star performs to amazed couple after staying in same hotel as where reception was held

After months of meticulous planning, Susan and Carl Smith thought they had arranged the perfect wedding day.
But they hadn’t considered that a rock star might turn things up a notch by making a guest appearance.
The bride and groom were left speechless when their luxurious wedding reception was interrupted by The Who frontman Roger Daltrey.
The rock star became a welcome wedding crasher as he took to the stage and sang to the disbelieving couple as they stood in shock beside him.
Daltrey, 70, was staying at the five-star hotel where the reception was taking place ahead of a concert in front of 13,000 people.
But when the performer heard that the couple were ardent fans of his legendary rock group he decided to drop in for a more intimate performance.
The singer took to the stage to deliver a short speech in which he congratulated the couple in front of around 100 guests.
But when the excited crowd started urging him to sing, Daltrey did not think twice as he joined the awestruck wedding band in a rendition of one of his hit singles to wild cheers.
The couple said they were still in ‘disbelief’ yesterday at the rock and roll conclusion to their special day.
Mrs Smith, a marketing manager, even joked that her careful planning was now redundant as their guests will only remember the day for their brush with one of the country’s best-known rock stars.
She said: ‘It was unexpected but it just made it the perfect day. It was unbelievable and better than we ever could have imagined.’
The 27-year-old spotted Daltry at Marr Hall, the luxury golf and spa hotel outside Glasgow where the wedding reception was taking place, before the reception on Saturday got underway.
When she approached the singer and he agreed to have a photograph taken with her, the bride said she was already ecstatic.
‘I was just pleased that he was happy enough to have a photograph taken with me a few hours before and I thought that was the end of it,’ she said.
‘When he went away for his dinner I actually said to the guests not to bother him as he was just trying to have a quiet night.’
But having been approached by a persuasive friend of the couple’s Daltrey entered the reception room, with the band stopping mid-song as they noticed one of their heroes was in the room.
His decision to play with the wedding band almost went pear-shaped however as the nervous act had never practised a song by The Who before.
When one of the group said that he used to play Can’t Explain - The Who’s first single and a top ten hit in 1965 - they decided to improvise and received rave reviews from the crowd.
The visibly delighted Daltrey gesticulated to the crowd throughout the performance and serenaded the bride and groom who were standing at the side of the stage.
Daltrey also paid tribute to the Armed Forces after learning that Mr Smith served in the Parachute Regiment for eight years and that many of his former colleagues were in attendance.
A speechless Mr Smith, 26, who now works in private security in Iraq, described the performance as ‘legendary’.
Mrs Smith said: ‘We’re fans of The Who so it was all just really excited. I think one of the main reasons he came in is that he wanted to thank all of those guys for their service.
‘But when he was on stage everybody started chanting for him to sing a song and he quickly decided that he would.’
‘I think all of our guests are going away thinking they have never been to as good a wedding and never will again. It made the day for everyone.’
‘Afterwards we had a little chat and he was congratulating us and wished us health and happiness for the future. He was really sweet.’
Mrs Smith joked: ‘I almost feel a bit annoyed as there were so many things that I planned but this was obviously the best bit and you just could not have planned it.’
She revealed that it was Mr Smith’s boss, described as the ‘life and soul of the party’, who ‘sweet talked’ the singer into getting involved in the celebrations.
‘We still don’t quite know how he did it or what he said but I’m sure he’ll be telling his story for years.’
Tommy Bell, singer and guitarist with wedding band Milestone, said: ‘When he came through to the room we knew we needed to play something.
‘We were just in shock. Our guitarist Graham knew a bit of Can’t Explain so we just made it up as we went along.’
Mr Bell, 33, describing the ‘magical’ gig as his best ever performance, said: ‘The song pretty well too. He kept turning to the guitarist and saying ‘do a solo’ but poor Graham hardly knew the chords.
‘Our previous brushes with celebrities involved the banjo player from Mumford and Sons and PC Plum from Balamory, so I think this has gone straight to the top.’
The Smiths, from Glasgow, met while holidaying in Ibiza over four years ago and got engaged last December during a weekend retreat to the Highlands.
They flew to Thailand for a two-week honeymoon last night as Daltrey took to the stage at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro arena, joining The Who’s lead songwriter and guitarist Pete Townsend.

Daltry, who collected a CBE in 2005, is considered one of the greatest living British rock singers after numerous hit albums with his band and as a solo artist over a 50-year career.

WWE fired CM Punk via letter on his wedding day

After 11 months of silence CM Punk opted today to reveal all about his protracted exit from the WWE.
Speaking on his friend Colt Cobana's "The Art of Wrestling' podcast the Chicago native spoke for almost two-hours, uncovering virtually every detail his final moments in the WWE.
The entire interview is a must listen for wrestling fans but perhaps the biggest revelation of all was the news that CM Punk only discovered his firing by the WWE had been made official when he received a FedEx letter from the organization on the day of his wedding.
Punk clearly remains angry at the timing of WWE's move - which it has to be said is pretty callous - and firmly believes that the letter's arrival on what was supposed to be the happiest day of his life was a calculated, pre-meditated move by Vince McMahon and co.
BAD TIMING
After months of wrangling about unpaid royalties and silent treatment from the WWE Punk, two days before his wedding, received a call from Triple H who wished to speak to him despite over two months of silence.
After telling HHH via text that he would be more than willing to discuss things after his wedding and honeymoon Punk revealed that he got no response. Until his wedding day that is.
"The day of my wedding I got a FedEx in the mail - it was my termination papers, I was fired," explained Punk.
"I was fired on my wedding day. Very calculated, very deliberate and as much as I kind of chuckled at it and didn't let it affect my day I was like again 'you pushed too f*****g far, you pushed the wrong guy'."
PENT UP ANGER
Punk, who vented his anger and frustration at Vince McMahon throughout the interview, pointed the finger at the veteran CEO for his cold-hearted decision.
"Here's Vince McMahon who wants to hug me goodbye and he has tears in his eyes...and he f***ing fires me on my wedding day."
Having not featured in the WWE since January's Royal Rumble and having made his feelings felt towards Vince McMahon and Triple H in March, the letter did not arrive out the blue.
But the timing of the termination papers certainly seem more than a coincidence. Punk makes it clear in the interview that he had spent several weeks contacting those at the WWE wishing to speak to them about money owed and his exit from the company, with no success.

Surely the WWE could have found time to deal with his termination at a time more suitable for the wrestler even if they remained angry with the way CM Punk had left things with the hierarchy.

Jennifer Aniston talks wedding plans, shows off her 'version of the Kim K' on 'Ellen'

The 45-year-old actress joked around with her talk show pal about keeping details of her wedding a secret and also poked a little fun at Kim Kardashian's Paper mag cover on Tuesday's episode of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show.'
Jennifer Aniston discussed a topic that never seems to get old — her wedding date.
The 45-year-old actress has been engaged to fiancé Justin Theroux for over two years and the starlet opened up on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Tuesday about her friends' eagerness for the unknown big day.
"So I am your friend," DeGeneres said to the "The Horrible Bosses 2" actress.
"And I know everything about you. Not everything, but a lot, but if I weren't your friend and being a talk show host and you're my guest on it is mandatory for me to discuss the crazy constant rumors of the wedding and all the stuff," she continued.
"I know that I'll know when the wedding is, but sometimes, because it is so secretive, when we're invited we just go 'we can't be in town ... but should we be in town?'" she explained.
Aniston confirmed DeGeneres is not alone in the wedding confusion.
"Our friends Sacha (Baron Cohen) and Isla (Fisher) showed up for four little gatherings, about a year ago, in beautiful wedding wear. Even for the 4th July last year, Sacha was in a powder blue suit, and Isla was in a little cute dress and we were like, 'Guys, it's July 4th, we were in cut offs, eating hot dogs. We will actually let you know.'"
"For Thanksgiving, a friend of mine said, 'I can't come this year, but should I?'" she added.
Aniston and the talk show host went on to play a funny game of the "Last Word" on Tuesday's show.
While the two ladies were shouting out words and phrases, Aniston's chest began to grow under a red zip up.
"Did you get a hold of my things back stage?" the perplexed DeGernous asked the former "Friends" star after the game.
"Something has changed about you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Aniston quipped.
"This is like my version of the Kim K, but the forward one," she joked of her fake enlarged breasts to the audience, referring to Kim Kardashian's Paper mag cover showing off her famous booty.
This is the second time over the last week that Aniston has referenced the reality star's much-talked about nude spread for the art magazine.
During a red carpet interview for the premiere of "Horrible Bosses 2," Aniston was asked by Extra TV about her famous 1996 Rolling Stone cover, in which she also showed off her bare bottom.

"I was an original. Sorry, Kim K," she joked.

Couple learns wedding officiator unauthorized after ‘mortifying’ marriage ceremony

Nearly three months after their summertime wedding, Jessica and Casey O’Donnell aren’t quite sure if they’re actually married.
In the Peterborough couple’s own words, the newlyweds are “sort of” spouses.
“Un-frickin-believable,” said Casey, 33, when discussing the events that led to their marital limbo.
“To be honest, it feels surreal, like — did this actually happen? What the hell?”
What happened is this: In the rush to organize an outdoor wedding in August, they took to Kijiji to hire an officiator named George T. Casselman to oversee their ceremony and legally confirm their nuptials.
That resulted in what Casey calls a “trainwreck” at the altar. As portrayed in a video of the ceremony, Casselman stumbled over his words and seemed to utter incoherent sentences. He briefly misplaced the wedding rings, then dropped them to the grass at his feet. At one point he lost his place in his notes, prompting Jessica to mutter, “Couldn’t you just make it up?”
That was hard enough, Jessica recalled. But then, on Monday, the couple says they received a call from Service Ontario telling them Casselman was not authorized to marry people in the province. The O’Donnells say they now have to go to family court and apply for an “order of validity” to finally make their marriage official, an ordeal Casey expects to cost “about $500.”
They have since put out a call of their own on Kijiji, warning others who may have been married by Casselman that their wedding might not be entirely official.
“It was all pretty horrible, and I had kind of swept it under the rug,” said Jessica, 27. “This is just reopening the wound.”
The Star tried repeatedly to contact Casselman, who didn’t return voice mails or text messages on Friday or Saturday.
The situation isn’t unprecedented in the province. Last year, the Ministry of Government Services revealed that more than 830 weddings between 1990 and March 2013 had been officiated by people not authorized to oversee marriages.
Cynthia Vukets, spokesperson for Service Ontario, declined to speak specifically about the Casselman-O’Donnell case, citing privacy rules.
She did say that the agency routinely checks its records and reaches out to couples when they find evidence of an unauthorized marriage officiator. These couples are still considered legally married, Vukets said, but they must apply to the courts to “determine that the marriage is valid” before the province can recognize the union.
In cases where the officiator believed they had marriage authorization, Service Ontario tells them how to get registered through a “recognized” religious institution, Vukets said.
It is a crime in Ontario, however, to knowingly “solemnize” a marriage without the authority to do so. In August, a Dorchester, Ont., woman plead guilty to six counts of knowingly marrying people without authorization and was sentenced to 12 months probation, the Woodstock Sentinel-Review reported.
For privacy reasons, Vukets declined to discuss whether Casselman knew he wasn’t authorized to marry people. But she added there are websites in Ontario that aren’t recognized by Service Ontario that claim to “ordain” marriage officiators in the province.
In a text message to Casey late Friday — which he forwarded to the Star — Casselman says he was certified by the “United National Church of Canada,” which has a websitethat will “ordain” people to perform marriages for $139.99.
The organization is not authorized to certify marriage officiants in Ontario, Vukets said. The United National Church was unavailable for comment Saturday.
A man named George Thomas Casselman also registered a “ceremonial officiant” business in July called “Enduring Moments.” The listed address on the business document is a low-income apartment building in Peterborough.
After dating for a decade, Casey and Jessica got engaged in February. Two months later they took to the Internet to hire an officiator. They found Casselman’s post “The Wedding Officiant,” in which he says he is a “family man” available to oversee weddings and funerals to help create “your perfect ceremony.”
“We went to his place to meet him,” said Jessica. “He seemed like a pretty reasonable guy, down to earth . . . a little eccentric.”
The couple says they decided to book him and handed over a $75 deposit on a total fee of $250.
Everything seemed fine, said Casey, until they contacted him about a ceremony rehearsal. According to Jessica, Casselman “insisted that wasn’t necessary, that we’re a young couple and we don’t need to spend the extra money” hiring him for a dry run. Jessica said Casselman assured them it would be fine, so they had the rehearsal without him.
In retrospect, that was the first “red flag,” Casey said.
Then came their wedding day, with the ceremony Jessica calls “mortifying.” Casselman, who arrived at the wedding with a woman Casey described as “scantily-clad” in “six-inch heels,” is seen in the YouTube video reading from a book, flanked by the couple at an altar in their friend’s backyard. After bungling the delivery of his notes and drawing sporadic laughter from the crowd Casselman concludes: “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you great honour and great joy and privilege to announce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jessica O’Donnell.”
Casey is then seen shrugging his shoulders. “I’m taking her name,” he says.
“He just dropped the ball completely,” Casey told the Star. “It seemed like (it took) an eternity.”
After the wedding, Casey and Jessica said they repeatedly tried to contact Casselman. They said he responded three days later with a text message, which Casey sent to the Star. Casselman explained he now realizes he should have done a rehearsal. He also refers to “my heart diabetes,” saying he had a “mild heart attack” after the ceremony, and that he is “truly sorry about that day.”
The couple refused to pay Casselman his entire fee after the ceremony, and Casey said they demanded their $75 deposit back, but didn’t receive the cash.

“It’s a little easier pill for me to swallow,” said Casey. “For Jess, she’s dreamed about (her wedding) her whole life, and for him to make a mockery of it . . . I’m still kind of in shock about it.”

Strangers come together to organize couple's dream wedding

As the big day approached, a giddy Marquessa Pinder and Avery Guidry planned their wedding surrounded by more than a dozen strangers.
They posed for pictures with people they'd just met, people who were giving their time and money to help the pair have the wedding of their dreams.
The couple from Kirkland decided to forego a formal affair to save for school and a house.
"Money's big. Weddings are expensive and having a baby with two older kids, there's other dreams, ya know," said Pinder.
The wedding transformed from a planned small city hall event with two witnesses to a DJ'd reception after Pinder posted on Facebook to a group called Buy Nothing Kirkland.
The site touts itself as a place where members give where they live. Pinder asked to borrow a dress for her courthouse vows. The 27-year-old said, "Just a basic party dress, anything to look pretty."
Robyn Dosono had a dress and question.
"Why is she having a courtroom wedding?" she said. "It broke my heart."
Pinder privately messaged back the woman she didn't know, saying that she had no family and didn't know how to put together a wedding. Dosono replied, "Well you have a big family in the BNK, we call it BNK, Buy Nothing Kirkland."
A bond quickly formed between the women.
"I just didn't have a mom, she came through," said Pinder, who grew up in foster homes until her grandmother adopted her at age 12.
Dosono's wedding wheels started turning. She posted a note on BNK to see if other people wanted to throw the couple a wedding. Within 7 hours of that post, the couple had a donated venue and all the people to make their wedding a reality.
A Kirkland Dance Studio donated two rooms for the wedding and reception. A photographer, videographer, and DJ stepped up free of charge. Pinder had a free gown and brides maids' dresses. People offered to bring tables, chairs, personalized party favors, decorations, lighting, and Italian dishes for the buffet.
In a flash, Jennifer Astorga gave $1,600 worth of wedding photography services at no charge. Florist Courtney Kroyman filled the dance studio with free hydrangeas, royal blue dyed roses, boutonnieres, and bouquets. She tackled baby sitter duties too.
Guests and gifters from Kirkland attended Sunday's ceremony.
"Everything I can want. This is a dream come true like ever princess wants growing up and it's here," said Pinder.
It took a village to throw this $10,000 dollar wedding for free. And it took a social media group to help the young couple connect to their community.

"This was them asking for a cup of sugar and they got the cake and the steak and the lobster, too," said Neighbor Carol Myers.

Minnesota Woman Crafting Nearly 400-Pound Beaded Wedding Gown

A 57-year-old woman who describes herself as a “visionary artist and designer and bead sculptor” has created a nearly 400-pound wedding gown in the most unlikely of places: a warehouse just outside of Minneapolis.
That is where Gail Be has spent the past three-plus years working with 23 other woman and nearly one million beads to create a wedding dress she hopes will end up featured in a movie and then a museum.
"It is a work of art,” Be told ABC News.
The first germ of an idea for the wedding gown began almost by accident nearly 13 years ago when Be created lacework that she thought she could “never make a dress big enough for.”
She put the design away until 2011 when she took it back out and, she recalls, someone told her, “That is the most beautiful piece I’ve ever seen.”
Be began designing the wedding dress around that piece of lace, which is now just a small fraction of the extravagant gown.
“I kept going and going,” Be said of the design, which has so far taken 20,000 hours to complete. “It’s in my warehouse and when it finally got to the back I stopped and said, ‘It’s done,’ and everyone got up and clapped.”
The dress boasts a 20.5-foot train constructed with seven miles of beading wire. The gown’s train includes 500,000 glass pearls and over 400,000 crystals, including vintage Swarovski crystals, according to Be.
“I was going for 250,000 beads. I thought that would be awesome,” Be said of the gown’s humble beginnings. “It blew my mind every time it was growing.”
Be has been beading for over 25 years and picked it up again recently, she says, after undergoing treatments for a degenerative eye disease that left her legally blind and an injury to her left hand.
“I don’t read patterns. I don’t draw. I don’t know how to sew. I don’t do mathematical equations,” she said. “I do this from the ground up and when the dressmakers ask where it’s going and I say, ‘How do I know? We’re only halfway through it.’”
Be scored a coup recently when Lady Gaga wore one of her designs – a headpiece named “Erotic Ice” – for the iTunes cover of "Anything Goes," her duet with Tony Bennett.
Bew has high hopes that the wedding gown will also make it in Hollywood and has hired an agency, Look LA, to help connect her with studios, costume designers, directors and producers.
“I want to work with people that have a limitless mind of what they want to do,” said Be, who financed the dress herself and did not have an estimate of the cost. “I want to be pressed to the depth of my creativity and I don’t think I can do that anywhere but movies.”
A former colleague of Be’s has been put in charge of providing the official count of the gown’s beads.
“She’s gone through and recounted the dress six times,” said Be, who noted the dress would surpass the current Guinness World Record but cannot be considered for the title because a Guinness official has not watched the three-year process from beginning to end.
“To just count this thing will take about two months,” Be said.

A professional weighing company from Wisconsin came to weigh the gown, which Be says is a size 4.

Charles Manson gets wedding license

Mass murderer Charles Manson has gotten a license to marry a 26-year-old woman who visits him in prison.
The Kings County marriage license, viewed Monday by The Associated Press, was issued Nov. 7 for the 80-year-old Manson and Afton Elaine Burton, who left her Midwestern home nine years ago and moved to Corcoran, California — the site of the prison — to be near Manson. She maintains several websites advocating Manson's innocence.
The license does not specify a wedding date and indicates the couple has 90 days to get married or they will have to reapply.
Burton, who goes by the name "Star," told the AP that she and Manson will be married next month.
"Y'all can know that it's true," she said. "It's going to happen."
"I love him," she added. "I'm with him. There's all kinds of things."
Burton gave an interview a year ago to Rolling Stone magazine in which she said she and Manson planned to marry. But Manson, who became notorious in 1969 as the leader of a roving "family" of young killers, was less certain about tying the knot.
"That's a bunch of garbage," Manson said in the December 2013 interview. "That's trash We're playing that for public consumption."
Asked Monday about those comments, Burton said, "None of that's true," adding that they're waiting for the prison to complete their paperwork.
California Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton confirmed to the AP that the license had been transmitted to the prison.
Thornton said each California prison designates an employee to be a marriage coordinator who processes paperwork for an inmate's request to be wed. In most cases, she said, the department of corrections approves of such weddings as "a tool of family reunification and social development." But Manson is a unique case.
Burton said the wedding might have happened earlier if Manson did not have "some situations" at the prison.
Thornton explained that in February, Manson had three violations for possession of a weapon, threatening staff and refusal to provide a urine sample. Further details on the violations were not immediately available.
Burton said the prison holds marriages on the first Saturday of each month. She expects to be married in an inmate visiting room at the prison.
Thornton confirmed that Manson can have a wedding at the prison and invite an officiate from outside the prison to perform the ceremony.
He and his prospective spouse also would be allowed to invite 10 guests who are not inmates.
However, as a life prisoner with no parole date, he is not entitled to family visits, a euphemism for conjugal visits.
Why marry Manson under those conditions?
Burton said she was interested in working on his case and helping him obtain possible release. Marrying him would allow her to get information not available to non-relatives, she said without elaborating.
"There's certain things next of kin can do," she said.
She said she believes Manson is innocent and will get a new trial.
He and two women followers, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, remain imprisoned. Another follower, Susan Atkins, died of cancer behind bars.
They were convicted in the gruesome killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others at her estate on Aug. 9, 1969, and grocers Leno and Rosemary LaBianca who were killed the following night.

Manson would not be eligible for parole until 2027. He has been a habitual criminal and spent most of his life in prison.

Salman sister's wedding: Top stars to dazzle Hyderabad

Preparations for the wedding are in full swing at Taj Falaknuma, the luxury heritage hotel of the Taj Group located in the old city. The actor's family has booked the entire hotel for two days, Nov 18 and 19, to ensure that nobody gatecrashes the festivities.
The popular star, who has a huge fan following in this city, has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the wedding but the latter is unlikely to make it. The superstar personally met Modi a few days ago in Delhi to invite him but the the prime minister expressed his inability as he will be away on a three-nation tour to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji.
The actor is also believed to have invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but she is also not likely to come.
Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan top the long list of invitees to the wedding. While Amitabh has not yet confirmed his participation, King Khan and his wife Gauri are likely to make it in view of their close ties with Salman's family.
Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Hritik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, his wife Kareena Kapoor, Dharmendra, his wife Hema Malini, Karan Johar, David Dhawan and several other film personalities have reportedly confirmed their participation.
From Tollywood, as Telugu film industry is popularly called, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, his son Ram Charan Teja, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and their families will be among select guests.
Salman and his father Salim Khan have invited leading politicians, sportspersons and corporate honchos for the ceremony. About 300 guests are likely to attend the wedding.
Bollywood celebrities usually head to Jodhpur for marriages at the opulent palaces-turned-luxury hotels but this is the first time that a leading Bollywood family chose Hyderabad.
Top Bollywood stars visiting Hyderabad for shoots frequent Falaknuma, one of the most beautiful palaces of Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State.
The palace, which the Taj Group converted into a luxury hotel and threw it open four years ago, has 60 lavish rooms, decorated halls and a 101-seat dining hall, said to be the biggest in the world. Its Durbal Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors, had once hosted guests like King George V and Czar Nicholas II.
Located five kilometres from Charminar, Falaknuma, or 'mirror of the sky' in Urdu, is the scorpion-shaped, all-marble palace and was once the residence of Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (1869-1911), the sixth Nizam.
Perched atop a hill, the palace in 2010 opened its doors to guests with all its opulent interiors and breathtaking views.
It was Nawab Vaqar-ul-Umra, the Nizam's prime minister, who built the palace in 1893. Impressed by its magnificence, the Nizam bought it for himself.
Though the Taj Group converted several palaces into luxury hotels, Falaknuma stands apart in its splendour and majesty.
Salman Khan is said to have paid Rs.2 crore to book the hotel for two days. Sources said this was done to ensure that nobody gatecrashes by booking tables at restaurants or by visiting spas. The family will have its own security to screen the guests. The hotel staff will work as per their instructions to ensure smooth arrangements.
Marriages in some rich families like the family of industrialist G.V.K. Reddy were performed at Falaknuma but this will be the first time that the palace will witness the wedding of a Bollywood family.
Sources said Hyderabad-born actress Dia Mirza also wanted to celebrate her wedding at Falaknuma but negotiations for a better price made no progress and she finally dropped the plans.
A couple of suites, including the one which was used by Nizam, are the most expensive. The hotel charges over Rs.5 lakh a night for the Nizam suite.

It's not just Rs.2 crore which Salman's family will be spending on the celebrations. All the wedding planners, caterers and specialists providing services from makeup to decoration to mehendi and sangeet will be flown in from Mumbai for the grand celebrations.

Bride of paraplegic veteran gets surprise of her life on wedding day

The wife of a paraplegic veteran knew her wedding would be special, but she wasn’t prepared for exactly what happened during the couple’s first dance.
As Michelle Johnson rested in the bridal suite per her relatives’ suggestion, her new husband Joey Johnson’s friends rigged a harness system that would allow him to stand and dance with her without his wheelchair, the New York Daily News reported.
When Michelle entered the ballroom and saw her husband, she broke into tears and embraced him. Wedding guests cheered as the couple swayed cheek to cheek to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years.”
“It was so amazing to be eye to eye with him again and such a dream come true,” Michelle Johnson told ABC News.
The couple met in 2012 at a country music concert, just four months before Joey Johnson, 27, was in a motorcycle accident that injured his spine and caused him to lose feeling from the chest down.
Joey had recently returned to the U.S. after 10 months of military service in Afghanistan.
Post-traumatic stress disorder compelled Joey to ride the motorcycle for the adrenaline rush, Michelle said.
"Our family and I have been through so much, but we all know that Joey is still the same person, funny and loving guy he was before," she said. "He had to learn a different way of life with him and his chair: from showering, getting dressed and trying to function every day. But we are soul mates."
The couple initially bonded over a shared birthday, June 29, as well as the same last name, Johnson. Joey Johnson married his bride June 28, 2013— a day before their shared birthday. He had proposed in April of that year.
The bride said she never expected her surprise wedding dance.

"If you know Joey, he cannot keep a secret," Michelle said. "But he made my dreams come true and I never knew how special our day would really be."

Couple Who Refused To Hold Lesbian Wedding Ceremony On Property Facing $13,000 Fine

Cynthia and Robert Gifford, the Christian couple who refused to hold a same-sex wedding on their property, have been ordered to pay a $13,000 fine – $10,000 to the state of New York and $1,500 to each member of the lesbian couple to compensate their “mental anguish.”
The Giffords opened up their Liberty Ridge Farm in upstate New York to the public 15 years ago. They host weddings, receptions, parties, and corporate events, and put on an annual fall festival.
In 2012, Cynthia received a call from a woman, Melisa Erwin, who was looking for a venue for her wedding to then-fiancee, Jennifer McCarthy. Cynthia explained to Erwin that they would not host a same-sex wedding on their property because it violated their religious beliefs, but that they would be happy to host the reception. Erwin refused.
Unbeknownst to Cynthia, McCarthy recorded the conversation. She and Erwin filed a formal complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
The Giffords argued that their farm is their home, not a place of public accommodation, and should therefore not be subject to the anti-discrimination provisions of New York’s Human Rights Law. However, Administrative Law Judge Migdalia Pares of the Bronx rejected their argument, saying that, since they regularly collect fees for the space, facilities, services, and meals, Liberty Ridge cannot be considered “distinctly private.”
The Giffords insist they do not discriminate against people – they have employed gay and transexual people and have hosted events for same-sex couples. Their objection was to hosting the wedding ceremony itself, because it would violate their sincerely held belief that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman only.
This is not the first time Christians have been attacked for their stance on gay marriage. In Oregon, bakers who refused to make a wedding cake for two lesbians face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines; in Washington, a florist is facing fines for refusing to provide flowers for the wedding of two gay men; in Colorado, a baker is appealing a judge’s decision that would force him to bake cakes for same-sex weddings and provide his staff with sensitivity training; in New Mexico, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that a photographer could not refuse to shoot gay wedding ceremonies, even though, at the time of the ruling, gay marriage was not legal in the state.

“We’ve gone from tolerance to compulsion,’’ the Giffords’ lawyer, James Trainor, said. “State government should not be forcing people to violate their own religious beliefs, nor should they be forced to make a choice between making a living and violating their own faith.’’

Did Jessa Duggar Get Caught Fucking In Church After Her Wedding?

According to one scandalized wedding guest, fundamentalist Christian wild child Jessa Duggar Seewald didn't wait for the wedding night to bang her new husband Ben. Oh yeah: when she and Ben went to privately share their "first kiss," something sinful allegedly happened.
One "Mary B." alleges on the blog "My Life As a Stay at Home Wife and Mother" that Jessa's sister Jinger accidentally walked in on Jessa and Ben engaged in an "act of lust" in a back room of the wedding church. Mary explains, "Multiple people were discussing that when Jinger opened the door to get Jess for the reception, she immediately closed the door with a look of shock on her face. A big group of the girls were waiting outside the room to walk with her out…and my own daughters saw as well."
Here is Mary's absolutely amazing story from the 1,000-guest Duggar wedding [sic throughout]:
I was very upset when I was told about the incident that was witnessed by [my daughters] when the door to the room [Jessa and Ben] were in was accidently opened. I am not sure why they would not wait for the evening to pray and then consumate God's marriage.
The Lord has blessed them and brought them together. To hear so many people discussing what they inadvertendly walked into was heartbreaking and troubling. Why did this happen? How could this beautiful, joyus day now be forever tainted and destroyed by rumors about what the girls may (or may not have) seen? And if this is true why would they commit such an act in the Lord's home...the same Lord who guided them together. This really made me question Ben's headship and leadership skills. I pray he is not swayed to evil. I pray he acts as strong husband and worship leader to Miss Jessa. I have a terrible, guy feeling. I have tried talking to my husband about this but he has said he will not talk about it until he prays about it and gets an answer from the Lord. This on average takes about 48 hours for him to recieve an answer.
Rumor has it in the fundamentalist Christian community that Jessa, 22, was so hot for Ben that she had to hurry up and get married so she could kiss him. (And do other stuff.) Mary reckons that "Ben needs to be a stronger leader and not allow Jessa to be led away by temptation. ... This responsibily lays on the woman, as it's proven that men have a much harder time."

If the sexy Instagram Jessa posted yesterday is any indication, she is enjoying married life, love, and lust. Caption: "It's great living life with your best friend!

Duggar Drama: Jim Bob Duggar ‘Begs’ Producers To Edit Jessa’s Wedding Footage?

There is some major Duggar drama going on just days after Jessa Duggar’s wedding. According to Radar Online, the wedding kiss that didn’t happen between Jessa and Ben Seewald has caused somewhat of an issue. Sources say that Jim Bob and Michelle were shocked when their daughter and her new husband didn’t kiss once they were pronounced husband and wife. Apparently they had no idea that Jessa and Ben had planned to have their first kiss in private.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, wedding guests were shocked that Jessa and Ben didn’t go with tradition seal their love with a kiss. Jim Bob and Michele were, perhaps, the most surprised out of everyone. And now sources say that Jim Bob was overheard talking to 19 Kids And Counting producers, begging them to edit the footage before they air the wedding episode on TLC (sometime in 2015).
“Afterwards, I heard Jim Bob and someone from TLC talking about altering the storyline to make it look like Jim Bob and Michelle were in on it the whole time. It was a surprise to most of us that the children wished to be alone…However, it seemed to be most of all a shock to the bride’s parents,” said My Life As A Stay At Home Wife And Mom blogger, Ashleigh.
The Duggar family has shared many special moments with the public by way of their reality show. With news that Jim Bob asked producers to edit the footage, some are wondering what else might have been edited to be portrayed differently in the past.
According to the Latin Post, Jessa and Ben spent some time alone after they said their “I do’s.” The two were in a private area without cameras or wedding guests where they had their first kiss. None of this was caught by cameras, which was likely Jessa and Ben’s plan. To appease wedding guests, Pastor Mike Schadt asked Jim Bob and Michelle to kiss so that folks got to see a “Duggar kiss.”
Most fans did not see a problem with Jessa and Ben wanting to share their first kiss in private, given the fact that the two had never kissed before. However, it sounds like that’s not something that Michelle and Jim Bob would have agreed to, otherwise their daughter might have told them about it. Could this be why Jim Bob allegedly asked production to edit the footage?

Do you think Jessa and Ben’s decision to lock lips in private was a bad move? Do Jim Bob and Michelle have a right to be upset about the decision?

Woman accidentally gives out wedding ring with Halloween candy

One Arizona woman pulled a trick on herself this Halloween.
While passing out candy — she said she accidently gave one trick-or- treater her wedding ring.
The woman says she took her ring off and put it in a candy jar while carving pumpkins.
But she said she then forgot to get her ring when she filled the bowl with candy.
“I think we printed about 15 posters so far, and we’ve just been putting them up everywhere we can, everywhere there’s stop signs, everywhere we think someone will be able to read it,” said Brooklin Yazzie.
Yazzie said Friday night was the scariest Halloween ever after she realized she might never see her wedding ring again.
“When I first realized like ‘oh my gosh, what had happened,’ I just couldn’t talk,” she said.
Normally, she said she trick-or-treats with her two daughters. But with a recently broken foot and a baby on the way, she decided to hang back at her grandmother’s house.
She said she was barely 20 years old when she married her husband 10 years ago.
She says the ring doesn’t have a lot of monetary value.
“If you were to try and pawn it or, you know, sell it, you can probably get 50 dollars for it,” she said.
But she said to her – it’s priceless.

“It’s my wedding ring, you know? I mean you can replace it, but it’s not the same. I’m just really hoping the somebody has it. And just doesn’t know what to do with it. They don’t know whose it is or how to find out, you know through the hundreds of houses they went to they don’t know which house it came from.”

'Reign' Season 2 Spoilers Preview Greer's Ruined Wedding SNEAK PEEK: Bash and Leith Discover Lord Castleroy's Dirty Secret

It looks like there may be an unhappy wedding on "Reign" season 2. Thanks to the latest spoiler in the form of a sneak peek. In the clip we find out that Greer's (Celina Sinden) wedding day will be one to remember as someone may decide to speak now instead of forever holding their peace.
According to E! News, Greer is finally is set to finally have her ceremony to Lord Castleroy (Michael Therriault) in the hit CW series this Thursday night. Queen Mary's (Adelaide Kane) lady-in-waiting will say "I Do" in front of her former love, Leith (Jonathan Keltz).
However, there is a chance that the former baker who turned into a noble thanks to King Francis (Toby Regbo) may object during the wedding.
In the first look we see Lord Castleroy stand at the alter as Greer makes her way down the aisle to join him, we also get a glimpse at Leith's hesitant face which is holding something back.
In episode 5, "Blood for Blood" he and Bash (Torrance Coombs) will discover a surprising secret about Castleroy that could destroy with Greer during their investigation of the Protestants and Catholics' latest bloody brawl.
However, in the case that Greer does get to go through with her marriage to Castleroy we still may see a love connection happen between the torn blonde and Leith. "Reign" showrunner Laurie McCarthy teased that we will be seeing an open marriage this season.
"Reign" season 2 airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.
For those of you who cannot wait for Thursday night, thanks to Wikipedia we have a full summary of episode 6.
The description reads, "Tensions are rising between Catholics and Protestants, and in one confrontation Louis' Protestant nephew is killed. It's revealed that Caroline is in the pay of Narcisse, and she faked being possessed in order to get Francis to confess to his father's murder.
"Narcisse uses this knowledge to blackmail Francis into letting the Catholic murderers of Louis' nephew go free. Mary demands to know why Francis is acting strange, and Francis lies that it's because he believes she will never give him an heir.

"Greer learns that Castleroy is close to converting to Protestantism, but she accepts this and the pair are wed. Lola is surprised when she's approached by Narcisse, who wishes to pursue her as a potential partner."

This Little Mermaid Wedding Is Only Adorable If You Missed The Point Of The Little Mermaid

For the past 24 hours everyone on the Internet’s been going gaga over a faux Little Mermaid wedding idea from some company called My Cloud Parade. This would make sense if the Internet was run by five-year-olds. But, as we know from spending time in Reddit’s darkest corners, it’s not. The Internet’s run by adults. Adults who are old enough to know that The Little Mermaid is not a cute wedding idea. It’s not even a cute movie.
In case you’ve never been lectured on the pitfalls of Disney by a college freshman who just got high for the first time after a sociology class, let me fill you in. It’s about a very young woman who’s so desperate to meet a stranger that she gives away her voice. Not her metaphorical voice, but her literal voice. Even worse, we learn that giving away her voice worked! The Prince not only meets her, but also falls in love with her. Because the only thing better than coming across a naked young woman on the beach is coming across one who doesn’t talk during the game. Am I right or am I right or should I get back in the kitchen? Knowing all this, I can’t figure out why would any two-legged speaking adult woman want a Little Mermaid wedding. Especially since there’s never a point in The Little Mermaid where you see a sign for the open bar. Nevertheless, you have places like Hollywood Life acting like this is such an adorable idea.
“In one photo, the two are seen cutting a wedding cake complete with frosting formed into peach-colored clams and a sea green mermaid tail wound around it. And in another frame, we see macaroons fashioned into little clams — so adorable. Leo sports a little aqua blue bowtie, while Traci goes all out with her wedding gown! The dip-dyed dress features a seaweed-style trail that really pulls the whole mermaid theme together.”
Seriously, take a second now. Do you really want a seaweed-style trail being used in any way to describe your wedding. No, no you don’t because you’re getting married, not being turned into sushi.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “why are you getting all worked up about a faux wedding that’s a clever commercial for a wedding company no one’s ever talked about before this week?” Um, because I work on the Internet, that’s why! If I’m not getting worked up over something trending on Facebook, then I’m doing my job wrong. Also I always hated The Little Mermaid. As someone who was asked by my choir teacher (in front of everybody) in 8th grade to lip sync the songs, I never understood why Ariel didn’t appreciate how lucky she was to have such a beautiful voice.

Glee's Matthew Morrison Talks Wedding Details: Hula Dancing and a Hurricane

Glee star Matthew Morrisoncelebrated his one-week wedding anniversary on Saturday – and wasn't quite done with celebrations.
Throwing his fifth annual Halloween and birthday party at Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails in West Hollywood with the help of Freixenet, Morrison and his new wife, model Renee Puente, channeled John Travolta and Uma Thurman's characters from Pulp Fiction. "It ended up being better than I ever could've imagined," Morrison (who turns 36 on Oct. 30) gushed about his Hawaiian nuptials to PEOPLE.
Morrison called his Maui ceremony on Oct. 18 "just perfect," but that doesn't mean there weren't a few hiccups leading up to his big day. "I think the biggest surprise was there was a hurricane in Hawaii when we were there, so that led to a lot of, I guess, stress that we didn't really anticipate!"
But Morrison found the silver lining. On the eve of his wedding, "The hurricane brought the most amazing sky that night. It was a green sunset, which is kind of an anomaly. So that was special."
Luckily, on his wedding day the weather cooperated. "Saturday, it rained the entire day up until the moment my mom and I started walking down the aisle, when it let up. And then it was clear for the whole ceremony, the whole reception, until the moment the band at the end of the night said 'All right, thank you, have a good night.' And then it started pouring again," he said.
Despite the weather worries, Morrison and Puente, 31, made sure their ceremony was special and personal. "We both wrote our own vows. That was the moment I teared up, was when she was saying her vows to me. Both our vows were very us and filled with heartfelt sentiments but also some comedy," Morrison said.
He had one last heartfelt surprise up his sleeve for his new bride during their reception. "I sang a song as a surprise to her. It was 'Top Of The World' by The Carpenters, which was her mom's favorite song. Her mom passed last year and we actually had the wedding on her mother's birthday."
The reception wasn't all serious. "The coolest thing we did was a partners hula together. It's tradition for a Hawaiian bride to dance hula for her husband so she did that. I never saw her do it before and it was amazing. And we kinda learned this hula together that we did after that. It was awesome."

Morrison is currently wrapping up the final season of Glee, but don't expect him to shift straight to Daddy duty. "I think we're on a two-year plan," he said. "We want to enjoy this moment and enjoy being husband and wife by ourselves because once that happens, it's kind of not about you any more."

Venue holds contest for free same-sex wedding

Same-sex marriage only became legal in Arizona Friday, but the Wrigley Mansion is already offering up a free ceremony to one lucky same-sex couple. The prize is valued at $60,000.
"It's not a cause. It's a right that everyone should have had to begin with and we're for everyone having that right," said Ben Sinon, general manager of the Wrigley Mansion.

Sinon said the idea has nothing to do with the recent legalization. In fact, he said it started two years ago when a same-sex couple asked him at a wedding show if the mansion supports marriage equality.
The mansion has never opposed same-sex unions, but year it decided to take a stance and offer a free wedding to a same-sex couple.
"There's a $60,000 package and all they have to do is enjoy," said Sinon.
The flowers, food, and dresses or tuxes for the wedding are all donated by various vendors, free of charge to the couple chosen.
The mansion said since it announced the contest on Friday, its phones have been ringing off the hook with hundreds wanting to know how they can apply.
In the end the mansion is expecting 250 couples to compete.
"There's a lot of buzz behind it and every day it's continuing to gain more and more speed," said Sinon.
The couples will all meet for a live audition at the Wrigley Mansion on Oct. 27, where the mansion staff will pick the top five finalists. From there, staff said they'll leave the top prize up to a Facebook vote.

There is one catch to the contest. Once the winner is chosen on Nov. 5, the couple will only have one week to get all guests to Phoenix for the ceremony.