Business & Tech
Here Come the Veterans Day Brides
Eight couples, including 10 military personnel, exchanged vows on Veterans Day at the Royal Oak Music Theatre.
It was a doubly special Veterans Day Friday for eight area military couples as they exchanged wedding vows at the in a “Call to Wed” event.
“My father, who passed away last year, was in Word War II. I wanted to do something really special for him and all military veterans – those currently serving and those who have served in past years,” said Jessica Miller, rental coordinator of the Royal Oak Music Theatre. A "Call To Wed” was her inspiration.
Since Veterans Day fell on 11-11-11 Miller wanted to make sure that at least 11 couples had the opportunity to exchange vows and that everything was paid for, including their reception.
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"Everything was donated by local businesses so that these men and women could simply enjoy their day," Miller said.
in Royal Oak handled all the printing. “I have a soft spot in my heart for the men and women who serve our country. It’s the least we could do to honor them,” said owner Marge Russell.
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Two of the couples enchanging vows both served in the military – Ashley Taylor and Brian Plauman, are both in the United States Navy and Candice Holmes, United States Air Force and Shawn McBrien, United States Army.
As the national anthem played on Friday evening, the brides and grooms lined up and began to take the stage. Each couple stepped forward to recite their vows. Friends and family welcomed the couples as they became husband and wife.
More than 240 guests attended a reception held immediately following, compliments of the many businesses that participated in the event.
The eight couples called to wed were:
- Aimee Hamlin (Canton) and Phil Jeffers (Canton)
- Ashley Taylor (St. Clair Shores) and Brian Plauman (Clawson)
- Candice Holmes (Lincoln Park) and Shawn McBrien (Lincoln Park)
- Karen Dalton (Melvindale) and Michael Chambers (Melvindale)
- Amanda Goodrich (Warren) and Tim Urbanski (Warren)
- Kelly Dickie (Clarkston) and Nathan Hayward (currently deployed)
- Jacqueline Donaldson (Detroit) and John Barber (Detroit)
- Francesca Hughes and (Romulus) Johnta Pettis (currently deployed)
