So I booked this wedding less than a week ago. I did not meet with the bride and groom like I usually do and just talked to the bride on the phone and via email. She said that she and her fiance had been together five years and just built a new home in Medina. They were having a housewarming party and wanted to surprise their family and friends by turning it into a wedding party. So they wanted me to marry them at the party. This sounded like a lot of fun so I was happy to do it. She gave me the information I needed and she told me that they wanted the ceremony to be short and casual. So I took my ceremony and cut it in half and customized it with the surprise aspect. I was to be there at 9:00 p.m., well after the party had started.
Well, I was the one who the most surprised! When John and I arrived we were first met by police partially blocking the street. They had a guest list they were checking off and we were allowed to continue down the road. We now see many, many cars lining this neighborhood of huge houses. As we are walking up their very long driveway, we are approached again - this time by security with another guest check list. And then I see security guards all over the place. John and I have no idea what I have gotten myself into.
As we are met by Shane and Brittany, the bride and groom, a huge Mercedes van comes up the driveway. I was asked to wait while they went off to the van. I find out that the rapper, Lil John, is in the van and he is going to do a surprise performance. I, of course, have never heard of this young man but I am quite intrigued with the whole thing. So while we are waiting, John googles Shane French only to find out that he is also a celebrity - Rover French, shock jock on WMMS, and has a nationally syndicated show. Wow! Was I ever surprised. My first celebrity wedding!
Shane (aka Rover) tells me that he wants me to improvise the ceremony with him. I'm going - what? I can improvise when need be in a ceremony but not the whole ceremony! YIkes! But that;s what we do. I go up on the stage that they have erected in their huge backyard and Rover tells everyone that there is going to be a wedding. The crowd goes nuts and we are off. I pretty much threw my ceremony away and went right into the vows and ring exchange. We pulled it off and it was great fun. What a crazy, fun couple they are. We were laughing through most of it. It certainly was the most "unique" wedding I have every performed - one for the book I am going to write someday for sure!
Rover and Brittany were thrilled with the ceremony. I must have done well because I had numerous people come up and say I was did a great job. Everyone thought that the fact that I didn't know who Rover or Lil John were made it just the more fun. I know these two are in for quite an exciting ride. I am definitely going to listen to his show and I may even have to call in. :)
