17 couples take Meeks up on challenge, tie the knot

Not sure I could ever do it. I'm painfully shy and I wouldn't want to do this around anyone else other than family and friends. Although what Rev. Meeks (a State Senator and potential Mayoral aspirant) offered was a good deal:

Seven months ago, the Rev. James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church issued a challenge to the unmarried couples in the congregation: If 25 of you tie the knot, I'll foot the bill for the wedding expenses.

The result was a mass wedding Saturday in which 17 couples said "I do" inside the 10,000-seat House of Hope on the city's Far South Side.

The event, aimed at promoting marriage in the African-American community, was part of a series of initiatives celebrating the church's 25th anniversary. Salem members have also written 25,000 letters to U.S. troops overseas and donated $25,000 to Haiti relief efforts.

Each couple received a reception for 25 friends and family, wedding photography, premarital counseling and a one night stay at Swissotel -- all free of charge. Church members also donated wedding dresses, jewelry and flowers.

Ah promoting marriage within the Black community. A laudable goal if you believe in general that there is an issue as far as out of wedlock births in the Black community. Whatever the reasoning, I just hope that these marriages work out. :)