TAKINGTHE PLUNGE BRIDES, GROOMS EXCHANGE VOWS IN MASS SERVICE.Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer VALENCIA -Nearly 1,200 brides and grooms took the ride of their lives Monday - and then they tried out the roller coasters While there have been hundreds of different roller coasters built, there have been just a few that were notable for specific reasons. Some reasons include:
Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) is the world's largest chain of amusement parks and theme parks and is headquartered in New York City. There are 20 such parks run by Six Flags. California. Seconds after promising to love, honor and cherish, these 650 couples screamed their heads off as they honeymooned on the Valencia park's famous white-knuckle rides. ``I feel so happy,'' bridegroom Rene Scolero said to Sandra Aguilar, 28, as the couple held hands in a car aboard the new Goliath, billed as the world's fastest, tallest traditional roller coaster. Aguilar, 28, and Scolero, 32, both of Costa Mesa Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. , sat with 25 other couples in a car on the ground, while 25 other anxious couples waited atop the ride, 255 feet high, to say their ``I dos.'' Scolero's feet shook. Aguilar peered straight ahead, swallowed and turned slightly to meet Scolero's eyes. It had to be the ride, not the prospect of marriage. After all, the couple, who met about a dozen years ago, has six children. It was a friend, Victor Hilario, 22, who convinced them to make it legal and take advantage of the free ceremony sponsored by Magic Mountain, KLVE-FM (107.5) and the Guadalupe Wedding Chapel in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``I think one day, if I don't have enough money to have a big wedding, I'll probably do the exact same thing,'' Hilario said. Soft rain - a bridal shower A bridal shower is a gift giving party given for a bride before her wedding. The custom originated in the United States, although the first stories about these events have been known to originate in Brussels, Belgium around 1860. It remains a primarily US and Canadian practice. of sorts - fell on this massive Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. wedding at the Valencia park. ``People didn't care,'' Barreto said. ``Love conquers all The phrase Love Conquers All (Latin - Omnia vincit Amor, or sometimes, amor vincit omnia) originally appeared in Eclogue X of the Eclogues, a series of poems by Virgil (70 BC - 19 BC). , even the rain.'' Twenty-six more brides and grooms - most in formal wedding attire - waited in the next car to say their I do's on Six Flags Magic Mountain's new thriller roller coaster, Goliath. And still more couples sat in the theme park parking lot, exchanging vows before two ministers on a 25-story platform, who joined each couple as husband and wife. Those on the ground sat beneath a sea of umbrellas, listening intently as the Rev. Juan Baladad conducted a mass wedding ceremony in English and the Rev. Oscar Fueon translated in Spanish. The two clergymen stood even with the coaster riders, their words resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. throughout the parking lot. Fueon said both the cold weather and his nerves prompted his knees to shake as he watched the trembling fingers of the brides while the grooms slipped rings on fingers and prepared for the ultimate roller coaster drop. Before the 8:30 a.m. ceremony, Veronica Arroyo, 29, of Los Angeles and Cesar Arana, 54, of El Salvador El Salvador (ĕl sälväthōr`), officially Republic of El Salvador, republic (2005 est. pop. 6,705,000), 8,260 sq mi (21,393 sq km), Central America. , stood hand in hand in the parking lot recalling how they met six years ago. ``I met him at a mechanic's shop on 54th and Figueroa,'' Arroyo said grinning shyly at the groom. ``I was just passing by and we just started talking.'' The couple dated for three years before they decided to tie the knot. The prospect of marriage came as a surprise to Elizabeth Tanori, 25, of Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, city (1990 pop. 69,330), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles, in the fertile San Gabriel valley; settled 1870, inc. 1956. Its industries include metal fabrication, printing, and plastics manufacturing. , when 28-year-old Ray Samaniego took her to the Guadalupe Chapel on Saturday. ``I was so nervous,'' Tanori said. The couple met 10 years ago at a baseball game Noun 1. baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League in an El Monte park. ``We were cheering for opposite sides,'' Samaniego recalled. ``She caught my attention, and ever since then, we haven't let go of each other.'' Most of the newlyweds, some who had been at the amusement park since 5 a.m., headed for rides on Batman The Ride, Goliath and Colossus Colossus - (A huge and ancient statue on the Greek island of Rhodes). 1. It was Barreto who came up with the idea of marrying couples on the air six years years ago after a couple called and said they wanted to get married. Since then, the number of brides and grooms has increased. ``This is the biggest,'' Barreto exclaimed before he went on stage to introduce Zaa to a theater filled with brides, grooms and their loved ones. Giuliano Rodriguez, a general manager with the Guadalupe Wedding Chapel, watched the couples walk by with a sparkle in his eye. Next year he's hoping for 5,000 people - at Universal Studios, perhaps. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color -- 1 color SAC edition only -- 2 ran in SAC edition only) All that was missing was the old shoes as newlyweds took off on Goliath, top. Above, some of the nearly 1,200 men and women in their wedding finery sit under umbrellas at Magic Mountain on Monday morning. (3 -- ran in SAC edition only) Edwin Salgero and his new wife, Blanca, share a kiss after being pronounced husband and wife at Magic Mountain. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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