Some ballpark memories last forever. For 18 people at Wednesday's Triple-A Durham Bulls game, it was absolutely guaranteed to be an unforgettable night.
Over the course of nine innings, nine couples committed to matrimony in front of over 3,700 witnesses -- some of whom presumably came to the ballpark with no idea that they were about to become wedding guests.
Sure enough, though, between frames of the Tampa Bay affiliate's 10-2 loss to the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A MIL), vows were made, rings were exchanged and first marital kisses were kissed.
"At first, I was like, 'Oh my God, you're crazy,'" bride Tori Raeihle told a local news station. But, she added, "It fits us. He's played baseball his whole life, and it's definitely the opportunity of a lifetime."
Ballpark proposals are more or less a regular occurrence, and weddings at ballparks are not altogether uncommon. Last year, two Harrisburg Senators employees even tied the knot at work. And Minor League stadiums have been known to host high school proms -- sometimes unexpectedly during a game.
But nine weddings in nine innings? Durham has carved out a niche with that one. Partnering with a local jeweler and a radio station that shares an ownership group with the Bulls, the club has now delivered a nonet of nuptials in two straight seasons. The first such took place last August.