THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150478
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
James and Tammy Bebout got married Tuesday night.
Again.
Along with 64 other couples, the Bebouts held hands, stared deep into each other's eyes and pledged to stay married.
It was a surprise to Tammy, who'd been told only to dress up for a special Valentine's date.
She'd always wanted to renew her wedding vows, had even told James at a friend's wedding last week that on their 15th anniversary (they've been married 12 years), that's what she wanted.
But James had other plans.
He'd heard about the wedding vow renewal ceremony on the radio and called early to reserve a spot.
It was an evening initially planned as a joke, a cute Valentine's Day promotion dreamed up by WWDE (2WD) Promotions Director Chris Wilson.
Wilson was so sure she wouldn't get enough couples that she offered the first 30 a free dinner.
Instead, she had to cut off registration early after more than 100 signed up for the ceremony at Waterside.
And then she had to revise her plans.
``We wanted to make it lighthearted and frivolous,'' she said. ``But people are really serious about it.''
That they were.
Brenda and Richard Payne, married not even a year, were there ``because we need it,'' said Brenda, who was wearing her bell-shaped, white lace wedding gown again.
``We found out what marriage was all about in our first year,'' she said.
The first time, the Newport News couple were married in front of two friends; this time, it was before a crowd of curious onlookers, radio personalities and a man in a white tuxedo tap-dancing his way around the bandstand.
There was a 5-year-old flower girl dressed in white lace and satin, her 8-year-old brother in a gray tuxedo performing as ring bearer, and the man to remarry the crowd, comic entertainer Ken Hicks of Virginia Beach.
``If you believe in love, repeat after me: Yes, indeed!'' bellowed Hicks in his baritone voice.
``Yes, indeed!'' roared the couples.
It was enough to waken 14-month-old Nicholas Fore, there for the second wedding of his parents, Kevin and Deborah Fore of Virginia Beach, married four years.
Kevin, who is in the Navy, won't be here for Valentine's Day next year, so Deborah wanted to squeeze all the romance she could into this year's holiday.
``It's really important to remember that you love each other,'' said Deborah, ``because when he's gone at sea for months at a time, it really messes with your head.''
For some, it was a chance to celebrate an anniversary in a truly memorable manner.
Nine years ago on Valentine's Day, Loretta and John Wright were married. And she wanted to do it again, said the Portsmouth woman, ``because he's worth marrying twice.''
Each couple received a certificate commemorating their second time down the aisle, a thick slice of wedding cake and cup of sweet, sherbet punch.
And despite the laughter and the jokes, when Hicks instructed the couples to hold hands and remember their first wedding day, a solemn silence fell over the group.
And when he pronounced them husband and wife - again - the kisses lasted a long time.
``It felt good,'' said Tammy Bebout, wiping tears from her eyes. ``It felt good.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/Staff
James and Tammy Bebout were one of 65 couples renewing their wedding
vows on Valentine's Day at Waterside. Mildred Cooper, left, and her
husband, Malcolm Cooper, not shown, were also in the ceremony.
Radio station 2WD was swamped by couples wishing to renew their
wedding vows on Valentine's Day.
by CNB