Home Commentary & Short Stories Old School Cool: Nearly 40 Years Ago My Parents Got Married At McDonald’s

Old School Cool: Nearly 40 Years Ago My Parents Got Married At McDonald’s

by dewangibson

July 1977: My dad was 20 and spent most of his time managing his afro and a McDonald’s in Cleveland. My mom was 18 and had recently given birth to my older brother. He had a mini afro.

The young couple was looking to get married. The owner of the McDonald’s where my dad worked agreed to have the wedding at his restaurant for free. See, McDonald’s was the s**t and a lot less common than today. (There were fewer than 5,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide, compared to over 36,000 now.)

Anyhow, the store remained open during the ceremony–McDonald’s doesn’t play when it comes to their money–but the ceremony was outside of peak hours, so my parents had most of the outside area to themselves, even as restaurant guests looked on like, “I can dig it!”

They were married at McDonald’s on the 23rd of that month. Four kids and nearly 40 years later, they’re still together. And of course, the McDonald’s on Lee Road is still there, too.

Couple standing outside of the McDonald's they were married in

Ring bearer and flower child with couple who married at McDonald's

Newlyweds walking down aisle after getting married at McDonald's

Groom escorting bride to car after getting married at McDonald's

My parents today:

Couple 40 years after getting married at McDonald's

-Dewan Gibson

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11 comments

Rico From Heights June 12, 2017 - 9:47 am

SO TIGHT MAN!

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Kimberly June 12, 2017 - 12:47 pm

This is so beautiful. Im going to share it on my Facebook <3

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dewangibson June 13, 2017 - 12:36 am

Thank you! They’re pretty good parents, too:)

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Monique April 16, 2021 - 8:15 am

That’s my dad (the owner) with the camera in one of the pictures! Thanks for sharing. I showed MY daughters the pictures as well. They got a kick out of it.

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Megan April 16, 2021 - 2:06 pm

Your mom took care of my don every morning before school and every afternoon after school for 6 years. She is an amazing woman!

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Megan April 16, 2021 - 2:08 pm

*son

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Penny Warshauer April 17, 2021 - 10:21 am

Beautiful couple!!! Congratulations to your parents and all of your family. This is just the best. Thank you for sharing.

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Kelli April 17, 2021 - 10:49 am

This so beautiful and amazing! It was also on my second birthday lol. Thanks for sharing this.

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Carol April 17, 2021 - 2:27 pm

Black Love! True Love! Beautiful love story! Marriage goal!

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Sandra Burdorff June 6, 2021 - 12:26 am

Beautiful What True Love Looks Like

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Deirdre Love November 22, 2021 - 1:34 am

Beautiful love story!! I grew up not too far from that McDonalds and was in the 7th grade when this took place!! We need to see more stories like this to show what real love and commitment looks like!!! Loved it!!

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