Local couple to tie the knot at Coca-Cola Park

When one thinks of potential sites for a "dream wedding," it's doubtful that a Minor League Baseball stadium comes to mind, especially if the stadium in question is named after a soft drink and hosts a team named after a mythical breed of industrialized swine.

Perceptions will change this Friday, however, when the Lehigh Valley IronPigs host the first-ever wedding at brand-new Coca-Cola Park. Allentown natives Tiffany Rupp and Scott Kushner will tie the knot in front of their friends, family and approximately 8,000 fans.

This origins of this unusual betrothal dates back to October, when the IronPigs announced a contest in which one lucky couple would win a free on-field wedding at Coca-Cola Park.

"We asked people to send in 150-word essays that explained why they should be chosen for this honor," explained Mary Nixon, the IronPigs' director of special events. "About 50 couples applied, and we set up a committee of six of us here in the front office to pick the winner."

These half-dozen powerful people eventually selected Rupp and Kushner, a young, baseball-loving couple with a unique story regarding how they first laid eyes on each other.

"They first met at Swarthmore College," said Nixon. "He was playing center field in a baseball game, and she was playing center field in a softball game. The two outfields were back-to-back and they spent the afternoon checking each other out."

Due in part to this improbable story, Rupp and Kushner will be the recipients of a "free" wedding. The rings, photos, formal wear, cake, limousine service and much more are being provided by local businesses that offer wedding-related products and services.

"The wedding party will take luxury transportation to the ballgame and everyone will receive custom-made 'Inaugural Wedding' t-shirts," said Nixon. "The ceremony will take place at 6:40, and when that concludes, we'll have the groom throw out the game's first pitch to his best man."

The wedding reception will take place in the IronPigs' Party Porch area, though some of the attendees may find themselves back on the field during the game. All of the evening's between-inning promotions will be wedding-related, including a groomsmen dizzy bat race and a "first dance" in the seventh-inning stretch. The night will conclude with a fireworks display.

While the IronPigs' "Inaugural Wedding" is undeniably generous, the club did have an ulterior motive in mind when staging this promotion. Coca-Cola Park is a year-round facility that is fully equipped to host wedding receptions and other large events. Naturally, the club hopes that Rupp and Kushner's special day at the ballpark will inspire others to follow suit, even if they have to pay for it.

"We've done everything we can to make this special, and I really believe that this is just going to be an awesome night," said Nixon. "We're hoping that a lot more fans will want to get married here, once they see what we're capable of."