The Top 5 Absolute Worst Places To Get Married
Is there anywhere worse to get married than a cemetery? Apparently, yes.
pha88 / Shutterstock While most couples dream of walking down the aisle in beautiful ceremonies held in churches, outdoor gardens, or even their own backyards among family and friends, that doesn't others from tying the knot in the worst places to get married.
But, believe it or not, getting married in not-so-normal locations isn't too out of the ordinary. Especially for couples who want a unique experience to start their wedded bliss.
In 2009, the officials of Wisconsin Memorial Park cemetery in Brookfield, Wisconsin decided that it was time to expand their business. With five chapels, a reception hall and kitchen, they realized that their facilities were suitable for far more than funerals.
In fact, they couldn't have imagined a better place to hold a baptism. Or Bar Mitzvah. Or, for that matter, a wedding.
Several couples tied the knot amongst Wisconsin Memorial Park's headstones.
One bride, who's employed at the cemetery, chose to exchange vows with her now-husband at her grandmother's burial site, wearing the same dress that her grandmother wore on her own wedding day.
Another bride placed her hand on her late father's mausoleum before walking down the aisle, considering the small gesture something akin to being given away.
Denise Westerfield, spokeswoman for Stewart Enterprises, Inc., which operates Wisconsin Memorial Park and 360 other funeral homes across the country, explained that, "Funerals are becoming much more of a celebration of life than a dark event, so why not have your wedding at a funeral home?"
Top 5 Worst Places to Get Married
We don't know if we totally agree with Westerfield. No matter how you slice it, funeral homes are still about death.
But we certainly think there are worse places to get married. Much worse. Below are just a few of them.
1. In prison
When your groom is wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, it's hard to pick out just the right bridesmaid dresses or flowers.
Add to that the fact that you will be on the other side of bullet-proof glass while exchanging your vows, where swapping rings, lighting a unity candle, and kissing the bride are pretty much impossible.
2. In Las Vegas
There are a million reasons why this is a bad idea, and you already know all of them.
But if you're so drunk, sleep-deprived, or high on video blackjack that you can't remember why it's a bad idea to marry that cocktail waitress/stripper/third-grade crush you just reunited with on Facebook, allow us to give you a small, but terrifying reminder: Britney Spears and Jason Allen Alexander.
3. Behind a shotgun
Another reason to use contraception, people.
4. At the mall
Over 5,000 couples have tied the knot in the nation's largest shopping center, the Mall of America.
But do you really want to be one of them? Sure, you can ride the roller coaster immediately after saying "I do," and all your guests will be able to pick up wedding presents for you right on the spot.
But before you hop a plane to Minneapolis, remember that no matter how classy you try to make your mall wedding event, no one will ever be able to forget that you got married at a place that sells NASCAR garters alongside the bouquets.
5. On national television
So you've got a low IQ and want to be on television? There are other options. They're called the People's Court and Cops.
Check them out before trying to marry a millionaire, farmer, or former NFL cheerleader on TV.
Editor's Note: This article was originally posted in May 2009 and was updated with the latest information.
Kristen Meinzer is a writer and associate producer whose work has appeared in Time Magazine, Vice, Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, The Evening Standard, and Real Simple, and showcased on NPR’s The Big Listen, NPR’s All Things Considered, Buzzfeed News, and more.