Groundhog Day Inspires Theme Wedding

TANNERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Melissa Morton and Steve Miller planned to get married in early February, so why not a Groundhog Day-themed wedding?

"We also wanted to have a wedding no one would forget," said Morton, 20.

The fun kicked off Saturday morning at a church in Tannersville. After the two were married, guests shook hands with them and a 6-foot tall groundhog. One of Morton's longtime friends, Jimmy Corbett, wore a full-size groundhog costume, which he bought on eBay.

"People thought the suit was really funny, but some little kids got scared," Corbett said.

After that, the couple headed to their reception at Fernwood Resort - a reception which would have made Punxsutawney Phil proud.

Table centerpieces were double-sided cardboard cutouts of a groundhog. On one side of the cutout, the words "six more weeks of winter" were written above the groundhog. On the other side, the words "Welcome spring" were written above the marmot.

Groundhog chocolates were given out and a groundhog decorated the base of the wedding cake. Some young women wore brown - the official color of groundhog. There was even a groundhog piñata.

But the biggest groundhog-themed surprise was when Corbett, in the full-sized groundhog costume, was charged with running into the reception to steal the wedding cake off a table. After all, groundhogs are known for raiding people's vegetable gardens.

It was the youngsters' job to track down the groundhog and retrieve the cake.

Morton said she got much pleasure knowing the kids at the reception would be entertained.

"When I was younger, I remember how bored I used to get when I was at weddings or family functions and there were no kids my age or that I knew. So I wanted something fun. My mom and I tried to come up with things for (the kids) to feel special," Morton said.

When Morton and Miller entered the reception room, with its many chandeliers, the couple strolled into the grand room to the song "I Got You Babe." That's right, that was the theme song to the movie "Groundhog Day."

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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