Drive-thru
continued from page 6B
al for this woman who has decorated her
own chapel in cherubs and twinkly little
stars to make a more intimate atmosphere
for her customers.
A chat room just isn’t her idea of ro
mance.
Yet, always thinking of innovative ways
to accommodate the special needs of her
customers, Richards took her business one
step further in 1991. She opened the
world’s first Tunnel of Love Drive Thru af
ter witnessing a handicapped couple strug
gling to get out of their car on the way to
the chapel.
After the couple agreed to her offer of '
marrying them while they were inside the
vehicle, Richards was struck by the poten
tial of a new business venture that has sin
cere than paid off. She was right in think
ing other couples, handicapped or not,
would like the novelty of delivering their
vows in the same manner they might buy
their lunch.
Although Richards tries to avoid refer
ences to McDonalds, she is very conscious
of the similarities between her business
and a fast food restaurant. Therefore, just
months after its grand opening, she
changed the set-up of the Tunnel of Love
for two reasons.
Not only was she burdened with guilt
over the impersonal atmosphere she had
created, but she also began to experience
asphyxiation from the car fumes.
Instead of just putting up a “Turn off
motor” sign, the couple still stay in their
car, and Richards walks out of her booth
and up to the car window. To her, this
switch “makes [the ceremony] more like a
piece of heaven rather than a piece of ham
burger.”
In its 10th year of business, the drive-up
window marries approximately five to 10
couples a day, cruising through the wed
ding lane in everything from roller skates
to moving vans to limousines.
Once, Richards recalls, a couple was mar
ried in the back seat of a Cadillac with an
Elvis impersonator for a chauffeur. Yet an
other party pedaled up to the window on a
bicycle made for five.
The “one stop, one shop, wedding en
ter,” as Richards calls her endeavor, is cer
tainly thriving in the city known the world
over for oozing with similar establish
ments. Richards has been in the business
long enough to know how to compete with
the competitors, though, and she gives her
customers what they want.
Open 24 hours a day, her nuptials mec
ca offers everything from a hair salon to
gown rentals. “From the top of your head
to the tips of your toes,” Richards says;
anything and everything will be taken care
of, at any time of the day.
Las Vegas isn’t the only place a unique
wedding can take place. A few Eugene
area wedding planners say they are willing
to accommodate the craziest of ideas.
The problem, however, is that these lo
cal businesses don’t have much experience
in organizing ceremonies at places other
than the conventional church or park.
Jo Dial, the owner of D.J.’s Wedding
Connection, says that she remembers a few
couples who originally wanted their cere
mony on a mountain top but eventually
decided against the high-altitude services
because they didn’t want to impose on
their friends and family. One problem, she
points out, is that guests have to carry per
sonal belongings, sometimes for quite a
long trek. It’s just easier to get married
somewhere with all the facilities already
set up, she says.
Holly Kohler, an employee at the Acorn
Tree, another local wedding planning fa
cility, says the craziest wedding she has
ever helped organize was under a tent on a
ranch.
So, Eugene is obviously a far cry from
the bright lights and crazy buzz of Las Ve
gas, but Sin City isn’t too far of a drive for
the truly wild-minded.
For those thinking about elopement, a
simple ceremony can be purchased for $40
at Richards’ chapel. A service with one red
rose and one Polaroid photograph included
costs $60. Eighty dollars will get you the
ceremony, a presentation of flowers, a
bride’s garter and two Polaroid pho
tographs. Throw in an extra $20 and you get
the full package, which includes an addi
tional Polaroid and a video of the ceremony.
"'=1
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Eugene Weekly 1997,1998,1999
008341