Local couple marries at Hamilton Sonic

The Sonic on Hamilton’s east side Friday was briefly transformed from a car hop, drive-thru restaurant into the setting of a marriage ceremony for a bride and a groom who fell in love while working there.

Chelsea Wood and Ronnie Thompson, both 25, met at Sonic nearly 10 years ago when the store was just opening.

The scene for the nuptials was different to say the least — a ring bearer wearing rolling skates and instead of walking down the aisle, the bride was escorted by her father down a sidewalk by the drive-thru.

With cars honking approval and shout-outs from passersby, the bride and groom exchanged vows by a menu sign.

“It was absolutely an amazing day and turned out so much better than I thought,” said Chelsea, a 2009 Fairfield High School graduate. “I am very fortunate to be able to marry that man that I love. I know this is a different kind of ceremony, but I wanted to do it here where we met. Not somewhere where we wouldn’t even remember the name.”

Ronnie, a 2009 Hamilton High School graduate, said the couple is looking forward to spending many happy years together in Hamilton.

“We see a bright future with us growing old together and we look forward to being a part of making Hamilton great and being a part of the community more,” he said.

Kris Abshird, general manager of the Sonic on the west side of Hamilton, said the wedding was not the usual type of event seen at the fast food restaurant. Still, he and the manager of S. Erie Blvd. location were glad to host it for the newlyweds.

“It is two people that have started a life that developed from here. They came to me with the idea and thought it would be really cool to come back and get married at the place they met,” Abshird said.

He actually has a Sonic love story of his own.

“Me and my wife Natasha met at Sonic and we got married two years ago … We worked at the same Sonic as Chelsea and Ronnie,” he said.

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