Couple takes the wedding plunge at foot of Niagara Falls

From the Buffalo News:

The bride wore white in a sea of blue ponchos. What else do you do when the sun is sparkling on the water, and you’re about to take your wedding vows before hundreds of strangers on the Maid of the Mist?

Kimberly Rust and Dave Gilkey left their home in Grand Blanc, Mich., at 4 a.m. Friday by car, and were ready for their wedding on the top deck of the iconic Falls attraction 12 hours later.

The Rev. Malcolm MacQuarrie Sr., of Fort Erie, Ont., officiated as the bride and groom, both in their early 20s, pledged to love one another forever, before a crowd of curious tourists, many snapping away with their cameras.

â€ŔWe’re spontaneous,” said Rust, who found her dress, a minister and a location for their wedding in three days. â€ŔNo one else really does this, and I thought a lot of other people could get the excitement out of it.”

The couple vacationed in Niagara Falls in October and were disappointed that the Maid of the Mist was closed for the season.

When they became engaged in December, they mulled over potential wedding spots, settling on the Falls a few days ago. â€ŔThey were talking about an outdoor wedding in Michigan,” said Richard Gilkey, father of the groom, who was told about the Maid of the Mist plans on Wednesday. â€ŔIt was a little surprising, a bit of a shock.”