“A lot of relatives thought I was joking when I told them (the wedding was at White Castle),” Denson said. “I can’t believe it. I feel lucky.”
The wedding took place at 3 p.m. Thomas, dressed in white, walked an aisle from the manager’s office to the front of the store where she and Denson stood hand in hand under a lattice arch. Guests were served a reception meal from the White Castle menu, famous for its tiny hamburgers, trademarked as Slyders.
The ceremony was presided over by Hamilton County Judge Nadine Allen, who despite having performed more than 1,000 weddings, had never performed one in a restaurant. WIZ evening DJ Don Juan FoSho was the best man.
“A lot of people meet at White Castle, both customers and employees, so it makes a lot of memories,” said District Manager Kathy Baker. “We are happy to provide a place for memories.”
Delores Thomas, the mother of the bride, said “I thought it was wonderful. It was a very unique wedding but it came off lovely.”
As part of the contest, Thomas and Denson were given a Castle of Love diamond pendant from Castle Jewelers and a $500 White Castle gift card.
Both Cincinnati residents, the newlyweds met one mid-day at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati.
“I saw her and told her I would buy her lunch,” said Denson, who is a motivational speaker.
“I had just bought a salad and it was my last dollar,” said Thomas, an employee of Cincinnati Public Schools. “I started yelling at him, ‘Where were you at five minutes ago?’”
Despite Thomas’s poor timing, both said it was love at first sight.
“Our love was like a home run baseball,” Denson said. “It just kept going up and up and up.”
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