Like most couples, Stephanie Reinhart and Mark Jockel wanted a nice wedding. She wanted to get married in City Hall. However, he wanted a big wedding with all their friends and family.
They compromised and invited all their friends and family to their wedding, not in a lavish and elegant place, instead the couple got hitched on mile eight of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday. According to People, the wedding took only four minutes because the couple had another 18 miles to go. Reinhart got the short but sweet ceremony she wished for and Jockel declares his love for his new wife in front of 40,000 people. The newlyweds said that all their friends showed up to support them, some as far as Washington and Colorado. The couple first met in 2013 while training for a marathon.
He admitted that he wasn't sure about the plan at first. "It took me a day or two to come around to the idea," he said. "But everyone I talked to about it was like, 'That's the most incredible thing I've ever heard. You've got to do it.' "
The couple's idea to take have their marriage in public was lovely and refreshing. First, because it wasn't all about them. They only took a few minutes off of everyone's time, and still completed the marathon, which is a sign of stamina and commitment to each other. Also, there was no mention of any reception, which means the couple can go home and watch TV instead of entertaining their guests. The couple got something special after the Marathon as well. The officials gave them bibs that says "Bride" and "Groom".
"The marathon reached out to us to say we should swing by the media center afterward. And I figured it was either something really cool or it was an arrest warrant." Reinhart said.
