Gettin' Hitched Ozark Empire Fair Style

July 29, 2011|Reporter: Lauren Matter, Photographer: Jason Crow | lmatter@kspr.com, jcrow@kspr.com

The 75th annual Ozarks Empire Fair has lots of new elements this year, including a wedding chapel.

And all you need to get hitched is your wedding license.

As of opening day of the fair, 5 weddings have been scheduled, but Pastor Steve Carl says he's ready for 100 if that many couples decide to say "I do."

Melissa and Sam Barnett say their first trip to the fair is one they'll never forget.

She picked out her favorite wedding dress, he picked out the rings.

"We just planned a small wedding, just his family and mine," Melissa says.

But instead of having it in their front yard, they chose to have it someplace you'd never expect to see a chapel, the fair.

"It was my mom's idea, and I guess she said it was unique and it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity," Melissa says.

There's actually a big history with weddings at the fair, just not in a chapel like this.

39 years ago two people who grew up showing cattle together married inside the cattle barn.

Pastor Carl says he expects a lot of people to take their first step into married life at the fair.

"We've got quite a bit of people who said they will be there," Carl says.

Carl says every woman dreams of having a big wedding in a church, just in this case, it's on the front porch.

"It's their wedding so whatever I can do to make it a little bit better and memorable, that's important," Carl says.

And even with lots of surprised looks, Carl and the newlyweds say it doesn't matter.

The only thing that's important is making the wedding day memorable for the couple.

"I was asked to do a wedding in McDonalds because he proposed there and that was a special place for them, so why not get married at a special place?" Carl states.

The Barnetts say they plan on making a trip to the fair a tradition for their family.

They say they'll be back next year, the same date and time they said their vows.

Pastor Carl says couples can also renew their vows outside his chapel.

Weddings can be scheduled until the end of the fair.

There is a small fee for the services.

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