Do You Take This Man, and Would You Like Fries With That?

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio —  Twenty-three couples gathered in a McDonald’s restaurant today and made it their kind of place to get married.

The couples exchanged wedding vows in a mass Valentine’s Day ceremony sponsored by a radio station.

Twenty-four other couples renewed their wedding vows.

One couple got married in their car. Miamisburg Mayor Don Lucas read the vows over the drive-through’s loudspeaker to Brian Brengman and Tammy Purslay, both of Union City, who listened with a car window rolled down in the 31-degree cold and blowing snow.

Lucas pronounced them husband and wife, then said: “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Brengman. Please drive through.”

The rest of the couples lined up in a restaurant alcove for the ceremony, some dressed in tuxedos and wedding gowns, others in coats and ties and dresses.

Surrounded by family members, reporters and restaurant machinery, Lucas led the couples in their vows. Some customers looked bewildered by what was happening, but stood in line to buy breakfast.

Lucas pronounced the couples married. The crowd applauded, and an accordion player belted out “Here Comes the Bride.”

“It’s not every day you can get married at McDonald’s,” said Jamie Osborn of Dayton. “We heard about it over the radio station and said ‘Hey, this is a good opportunity because we were going to get married anyway.’ ”

Tim Elmore and Beth Mitchell, both of Dayton, said they met at a McDonald’s 12 years ago.

“She kind of talked me into it,” Elmore said.