Couple's McWedding marks first for LI At Farmingville McDonald’s, they wore golden rings beneath the golden arches
BY ERIK GERMAN STAFF WRITER
February 15, 2006
When Corey Cutcheon and Doreen Brown got engaged three weeks ago, they found themselves squeezed. The couple had sunk so much cash into their new house in Yaphank that there was little left over for a marriage celebration. And they said it was impossible to book a reception venue as quickly as they wanted.
So thrift and haste gave birth to Long Island's first McWedding.
'We called several places; no one would house us, and it cost a fortune,' Doreen Cutcheon, 34, said of her and her 23-year-old groom's dilemma. 'Corey said to me, 'Why don't we try McDonald's?''
A judge at Port Jefferson Village Hall hitched them legally at 9:30 a.m. yesterday and then the new couple joined their friends, family and well-wishers under the golden arches in a Farmingville McDonald's.
Franchise officials called the McWedding Long Island's first -- on Valentine's Day to boot. 'It's a first and it's pretty exciting' said John Rompollo, who oversees a dozen McDonald's restaurants on the Island. 'Maybe it's the beginning of a trend.'
The Cutcheons' celebration was not the first McWedding reception the world has seen. In August 2002, a thrifty couple in Wales made BBC headlines when guests at their wedding reception devoured 33 McDonald's Happy Meals at a local franchise.
Yesterday, the 50 wedding guests who gathered for fast food on North Ocean Avenue ate 14 cheeseburger value meals, 13 Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, 17 Chicken McNugget meals and four hot fudge sundaes -- all washed down with 44 medium sodas. They topped the meal off with complimentary slices of chocolate Ronald McDonald cake.
The grand total for the feast was just $250.59.
The bride's family had no complaints. 'Our children are in charge of their own weddings and they shouldn't be under the stress of the so-called traditions,' said mother of the bride Lene Brown, 57.
Brown said her own wedding was a modest affair on a rainy October day 34 years ago, in front of a judge in Yonkers.
The celebration drew mixed reactions from the customers there for non-wedding noshing, depending mostly upon the observer's age.
'I'm very shocked,' said Janet Marino, a homemaker from Farmingville. 'McDonald's is for children, and now the adults have become children.'
One onlooker, a wedding catering manager, said she's seen clients spend anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 on their receptions.
'People can't afford Long Island weddings,' said the manager. The 31-year-old Oakdale resident did not want to be identified, saying her business could be adversely affected by her name's appearance in print alongside the McWedding. 'The business is just that competitive,' she said.
But a younger McDonald's patron was all for the fast-food nuptials.
Said Vanessa Vorisek, 16, of Farmingville, as she cleared off her table: 'It's cool, and it's a lot less money than a regular reception.' Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
ZuzusPetals
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by dleeny
Posted by ML110
i say good for them! it shouldn't be all about the 'show' and cost of a wedding.... at the end of the day, they're just as married as anybody who had a big wedding.... and i'm glad to see their families were cool with it, too
AND they have a house. which is more than a lot of us can say
exactly - we all have different priorities. I think what they did was wonderful but I also think the thread on going to white castle for V-Day was cool too.
JPCP4806
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Thats cool. but at the same time there is just something not right about that!
Tiggeruth
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
I guess good for them, but its just odd...they could have gone out for a regular dinner to celebrate, why McDonalds? Unless they were looking for publicity. And in the picture they dont even look dressed for a wedding, he's wearing a tux shirt, seems a bit white trashish to me. You could at least put on a real shirt and tie for your wedding...but oh well...
TreAnt425
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
I work 5 mins away from this Mc Donalds, I should have went!
Mayflower
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by ZuzusPetals
Posted by dleeny
Posted by ML110
i say good for them! it shouldn't be all about the 'show' and cost of a wedding.... at the end of the day, they're just as married as anybody who had a big wedding.... and i'm glad to see their families were cool with it, too
AND they have a house. which is more than a lot of us can say
exactly - we all have different priorities. I think what they did was wonderful but I also think the thread on going to white castle for V-Day was cool too.
If anything, their priorities are definitely more MATURE than MINE... i'm blowing lots of money on a one-day event and FH and I still don't have a place to live in come May...
ellebelle1
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
That's crazy, yo.
MJDoc12
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by M&S Sept12006
Oh thats just disgusting.
that's kind of harsh! so what if they want a mickey d's wedding? just because none of us would even consider it makes it a digusting choice. they probaby thought it would be kind of funny to do--memorable and cheap.
i highly praise them for doing whatever they wanted for their day. just cause they don't want a fancy $50K wedding complete with a 10 piece band, ice sculptures, and filet mignon doesn't mean we have to call them 'disgusting'!sometimes i think we all get caught up in the planning of our weddings that we forget it's about two people becoming a husband and wife--and if they choose to have that ceremony/reception at a fast food restaurant---well congratulations to them and i wish them happiness in all their endeavors!!
SPITSBRIDE
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
If you go to the link below you can see their pic...
that's kind of harsh! so what if they want a mickey d's wedding? just because none of us would even consider it makes it a digusting choice. they probaby thought it would be kind of funny to do--memorable and cheap.
i highly praise them for doing whatever they wanted for their day. just cause they don't want a fancy $50K wedding complete with a 10 piece band, ice sculptures, and filet mignon doesn't mean we have to call them 'disgusting'!sometimes i think we all get caught up in the planning of our weddings that we forget it's about two people becoming a husband and wife--and if they choose to have that ceremony/reception at a fast food restaurant---well congratulations to them and i wish them happiness in all their endeavors!!
well said. I was a little surprised by the use of the word 'disgusting' myself. It is unconventional but disgusting no. I find myself being more judgemental when a person(s) actions are hurtful to another party but this couples reception was just their beautiful personalized way of celebrating. I just dont understand why this post is getting the reaction that it is. They spent their money wisely on a house that they will live in forever (possibly.) I mean not many of us can say that we can live in our reception hall for the rest of our lives to justify the outrageous expense. PLUS we all stress on this board, 'do whatever makes you happy - who cares what people think?' Im so glad they followed that advice but I think some of us on here need to practice what we preach.
ZuzusPetals
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by Blu-ize
Their day-their way...
May they be happily married for a very long time!
..pass the nuggets...
lol
Mayflower
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by Tiggeruth
I guess good for them, but its just odd...they could have gone out for a regular dinner to celebrate, why McDonalds? Unless they were looking for publicity. And in the picture they dont even look dressed for a wedding, he's wearing a tux shirt, seems a bit white trashish to me. You could at least put on a real shirt and tie for your wedding...but oh well...
They spent $5 per person...even a regular dinner would've been double that, if not more... I think it's great that they were able to celebrate with all of the family and friends they wanted to, AND didnt' break the bank.
As for choice in clothing...what's the big deal about having to get dressed up for the big day if you're only going to the JOP and McD's?
Tiggeruth
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
It makes me think that they aren't taking the whole thing seriously by not 'getting dressed', I am not saying a tux and a wedding gown but usually when people go to the JOP they dont wear pajamas. But this is JMO.
spring06bride
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by Tiggeruth
I guess good for them, but its just odd...they could have gone out for a regular dinner to celebrate, why McDonalds? Unless they were looking for publicity. And in the picture they dont even look dressed for a wedding, he's wearing a tux shirt, seems a bit white trashish to me. You could at least put on a real shirt and tie for your wedding...but oh well...
I'm glad you feel the same way. I think they could have had a lovely celebration at their new home maybe that could have been far more tasteful. I know to each their own, but when i think of exchanging vows with FH and celebrating with my family, the gravity of those vows also weigh heavily on my being... it just seems like all the sanctity of marriage is all but lost on this couple.
Mrs. dleeny
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by Tiggeruth
It makes me think that they aren't taking the whole thing seriously by not 'getting dressed', I am not saying a tux and a wedding gown but usually when people go to the JOP they dont wear pajamas. But this is JMO.
well, they bought a house together. that's pretty serious!
smara
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
It said they were broke from the house.. so when you think about it after their weddign thay will have alot more than I will have Im just going to have 1 bdrm apt that I rent.
I mean Iove my wedding plans and I wouldnt change it, but not everyone has money to do a big wedding. My mother got married by JOP.. she wore a nice dress and my stepdad wore a suit and they didnt even go out aftewards, They just went home. Some ppl just dont have it or dont think its important to spend thousands of dollars, I dont think that means they love each other any less.
The truth is ppl get married for different reasons, its not always about love and romance. My FSIL just got married by JOP becuase she is 4 months pregnant, didnt even tell her brother till after the fact.
smurray
Thread views: 5,094
Member since
Re: NWR: Did anyone read this today...
Posted by MJDoc12
Posted by M&S Sept12006
Oh thats just disgusting.
that's kind of harsh! so what if they want a mickey d's wedding? just because none of us would even consider it makes it a digusting choice. they probaby thought it would be kind of funny to do--memorable and cheap.
i highly praise them for doing whatever they wanted for their day. just cause they don't want a fancy $50K wedding complete with a 10 piece band, ice sculptures, and filet mignon doesn't mean we have to call them 'disgusting'!sometimes i think we all get caught up in the planning of our weddings that we forget it's about two people becoming a husband and wife--and if they choose to have that ceremony/reception at a fast food restaurant---well congratulations to them and i wish them happiness in all their endeavors!
