Since we started this blog, I've spent a lot of time taking note of unconventional ways people have chosen to get married (really, I'm amazed at how creative some people can be).

But as the mother of runners I was especially interested in a story about 47 couples who either got married or renewed their vows at the Las Vegas Half Marathon last weekend.


This has apparently been a tradition for several years with the number of couples growing. The runners start off and at the five-mile mark they stop at a drive through wedding chapel for a brief ceremony. This year the pastor ran the race, too. She stopped to don her robes and performed the group wedding ceremony at a pulpit set up outside the chapel.

Some of those getting married were runners who wanted their wedding to reflect their passion for the sport and some saw it as an interesting way to elope. One of my favorite stories from this event was the marriage of Adrian Broca, the fastest blind runner in the country who married his fiancé, Brenda Arechiga, who, in addition to running part of the race and getting married was also in charge of coordinating all the Elvis runners in the race (yes, it's Vegas and lots of people arrive in the costume of The King). The women in their wedding party dressed as showgirls in pink tutus and feathers (and yes, I wish I had a photo of that).

So, just when you think you've seen every innovative way to get married, you discover that you haven't. I do think the congratulatory hugs and kisses might have been interesting, however. I've hugged my sons after they've run many a race. You have to love someone a lot to do that (and wear clothing that you don't mind getting a little…soggy).

Still, this sounded like fun!

Also, before I close this piece, I do have two more small announcements to make. The first is that I just found out that my Wedding Planners book, The Heir's Convenient Wife, is a finalist in the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards! It's a nice way to end my week.

3 Comments:

 Brandy said...

I had never heard of a marathon with weddings! That's....interesting. But, there is no way I'd be hugging the bride or groom to Congratulate them! *G*

December 13, 2008 at 1:51 PM  

 Myrna Mackenzie said...

Brandy,
Yes, hugging someone who has just run a fierce race is quite the experience! I guess it's a good thing that in this case both the bride and groom have been running. (I'd save the nice dress for the reception, though, if i was the bride).

December 14, 2008 at 2:35 PM  

 EllenToo said...

I always thought the idea of running a marathon was to win but I guess some would rather get married than win a race. And I certainly agree that I wouldn't want to hug them in congratulations unless I had been running to.

December 14, 2008 at 4:12 PM  

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