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Show idayf:Swl220_05_. XheWtahSjtates More couples will find traditional weddings just aren't up their alley a different way. They've been to so many weddings over the years and nobody wants their wedding blurred with all the The tacky bridesmaids1 dresses, others." the packed church of relatives Industry insiders like stuffed, grudgingly, in all their McCollough are seeing whimfinery. The corny wedding sical wedding details that give band, or, worse yet, the twerpy a nod to the couple's personalD.J. corralling the single ities — unconventional menus women for the hated bouquet of macaroni and cheese, toss. McDonald's hamburgers or When it came time for Southern fried chicken, a la their nuptials, Kris and Rob Britney Spears. They're seeThompson wanted none of it. ing an increase in destination "We didn't want to do it weddings, where exotic locain a traditional way just to do tions serve as backdrop for the it a traditional way," says Rob momentous event - and help Thompson. weed out the peripheral guests invited out of obligation. The couple, both 34, didn't want the exchange of their They're hearing about gathvows on stage like a specerings like the Thompsons' tacle and they did not want to that incorporate group activiblindly follow a set of rituals ties such as horseback riding that held no meaning for them. or kayaking -- social lubriThey wanted a way to preserve cants they say bring strangers the reverence of the occasion together and talking better in a private moment for them- than any cocktail can. selves, while still celebrating "You know when you go to their wedded bliss with family a wedding and you're dreadand friends. ing who you have to sit with? "We just wanted to do I always felt like I constantly it our own way, put our got stuck at the table with all own stamp on it," said Kris the singles. And you're just Thompson. sitting there, trying to make So the couple eloped, marsmall talk over this enormous rying last New Year's Eve in (table) centerpiece," says Kris a tiny chapel where the only Thompson, a West Hartford guest was their beloved dog, native. (Both copywriters Henry. For the reception, they living in Los Angeles, the wanted casual, quirky and fun Thompsons brought the cele— nothing extravagant, nothbration back to Connecticut to ing too expensive. be closer to the bride's family). And nothing, it seemed, The pair wanted an atmofit that equation like an oldsphere of ease. Bowling teams school bowling party. became their modern-day verThus was born the sion of table assignments. Thompson Tournament of And at their kitschy August Love, held a few weeks ago at celebration at the Blue Fox a Simsbury, Conn., bowling Rock *n Bowl, the guests alley. The bride wore denim, seemed to appreciate the the groom black Converse. effort. And the parents proudly "I think it's a great altergreeted guests in customized native way to go," says Mike bowling shirts. Beach, leaning against a bowl"It turns the whole thing ing ball stand that doubled on its ear a little bit," says Rob as a cocktail table. Serving Thompson. "It's fun, it's goofy. as a centerpiece was a single There's definitely a total irrev- bowling pin paired with a erence to our approach.... And two-toned bowling shoe that then there's the pragmaticside . -sprouted a simple bouquet of of us that said, 'Why in God's flowers. name would we spend all this "Peoplefitinto a pattern money... tofilla church for an and wind up doing the same hour?'" thing all the time," Beach says. 1 As couples try to recapture 'This is a great way to keep it the sanctity of an event whose loose." meaning gets buried in a sea About 125 family and of frilly white and lost in the friends milled about the frenzy of the $72-billion wed1960s-era alley, shuffling ding industry, more and more around in rented bowling couples like the Thompsons shoes and feasting on salmon are shunning stodgy traditions and roast pork loin. in favor of personal twists. The bride's version of Whether it is in the subtle a wedding dress: a white, detail of a baby-blue wedding vintage bowling shirt recondress or in the grand statement structed into a fitted tank top of a themed costume party, with a small, ruffled puff at the wedding watchers say couples back in a lighthearted nod to a are beginning to embrace the gown's train. The groom wore unconventional in an effort a black bow tie and a tuxedo to put their mark on what is shirt from JCPenny, his name perhaps the most cliched of embroidered, bowling-style, at milestone occasions. the corner. "Brides and grooms The wedding cake: two don't want a cookie-cutlevels of cupcakes crowned ter wedding," says Rosanna with a layer of white cake, a McCollough, editor-in-chief plastic bride and groom topper ofWeddingChannel.com. "As flanked by tiny bowling balls (people) get married a little bit and pins. older these days... I think they Then at 9 o'clock came the want to express themselves in BY JOANN Is your instrument gathering dust? ...Then bring It and yourself to the first meeting of the USU Symphonic Band Tuesdays, Sept. 6 and/ or Sept. 13 3:00- 4:30 PM Room 104 Chase Fine Arts Center No Audition Required-it's not too late! KLIMKIEWICZ The Hartford Couranl www.usu.odu/muBlc/onsemblea/bandtt Call for more Information 797-3004 VSU Stu<£«rrts. faculty & 1 0 ±>-erc-errt O f f 1 with ,.,;+k this +k;o 1.1 W A C K Y W E D D I N G S : Newlywed Kris Thompson jumps into the arms of her husband, Rob, after knocking down bowling pins during their bowling-alley wedding reception. last words one would expect to hear at a wedding reception. "All right, everybody," a teen voice blared over the speakers, "it's time to bowl!" "I just think it's so cool," says Jacki Pass, aiming a plastic forkful of pasta into her 2year-old son Sam's mouth. "I like a casual get-together and I think it's a nice, easy way to mingle with people. I like that they re doing it their own way. I think more people should do it their own way. Because the traditional is overrated." Bill Mangini, father of the bride, admits some of the family initially didn't know what to make of the unusual festivities. 1 ' There are a lot of oldworld Italians in the family, so it maybe raised eyebrows at first. But they really accepted it and took to it," he says. But didn't he feel like he missed out on the moment to walk his daughter, white dress, veil and all, down the aisle? "No," says Mangini, sip- on brooches W ping beer from a plastic cup. "I said, "You know, it's your day. You do whatever you want.' And I wanted to give her whatever she wanted." McCollough, of WeddingChanneI.com, admits she's "a sentimental gal" and holds an appreciation for the traditional. Still, she says, "it's fine to have an extremely whimsical event as long as you two are very serious about the vows, as long as you keep the sincerity of saying those words. Then everything else is just decoration and you can make it be whatever you want it to be." That was exactly the Thompsons' intent. "When we were standing up there (on our wedding day), we really felt like it was just us," says Kris Thompson. "Rob's hands were trembling and my eyes were tearing up. And if I had to do that in front of 150 people...." "I would have passed out," her husband concludes. fa QugJit/ Antique Jewels CoII-ection S.C H-e-e^Ham UW-el-ers 14-1 Ho. H$in. Come and See Wlson Motor Company "We have a wide S variety of cars under $ 12,000!" Taxpayers may have to pay for monument to organ donors SALT LAKE CITY (AP)The monument to organ donors sits at Library Square, a supposed gift to the city, but taxpayers could end up-paying for it. The Celebration of Life monument, with a water fountain and a glass wall etched with the names of organ donors, opened more than a year ago. The nonprofit organization that created the monument and was raising funds no longer exists, and $336,000 must be raised by the end of the year or interest charges will kick in. The City Council is questioning if city policy was followed in building the $636,000 monument. Normally, money must be in place before it's spent and the council must agree to spend the funds. Council members said they did not approve the expenditure, and the mayor's office did not inform them of the possible debt until The Salt Lake Tribune raised the matter this week. "The administration has #ri$ht -Shin/ Thirds put the city on the hook for $300,000 without ever getting council approval," said Councilman Dave Buhler. "To obligate us without prior approval, that's a big concern. "It doesn't look like it was done correctly. Somebody messed up. 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