Wedding in the park (ballpark)

May 03, 2008 02:21 pm

— LARRY LARKIN
Progress Correspondent

B.J. Bickford has thrown a perfect pitch to his girlfriend, Jennie Burgardt.
And she’s taken the pitch.
Jennie has said yes to B.J.'s proposal of marriage.
The two plan to wed later this summer.
Exciting news for the couple, their families, their friends. But why is this news appearing on the sports page, you might ask?.
Well, instead of walking down the aisle to meet her waiting groom, Jennie will probably come in from left field to join B.J. on the pitcher's mound.
The wedding vows will take place at Claremore’s Legendary Legion Field.
There’ll be a diamond in the middle of a diamond.
A 2004 Claremore High graduate and a pitcher on the last Zebra baseball state championship team, B.J. Bickford wants to start this new chapter of his life at the place where he spent so many happy hours.
"I have so many wonderful memories at the ball park, and this will just add more," he said this week.
What about the future bride? How does she feel about the idea?
"Oh, yes, I definitely am all in favor of the wedding site,"Jennie said with a laugh. "We both love sports, and this will be the perfect location."
Lettering in basketball, softball and soccer at Verdigris, Jennie also is an '04 graduate.
The date has been set — Aug. 8 — but many arrangements are still in the early stages.
One thing is for certain, however. Legion Field will be needed.
"It is going to be a large wedding,” B.J. said.
“By the time we figured out who we wanted as the bridesmaids and my groomsmen, we each had nine. We didn't plan it that way. It just happened."
With nine on each lineup card, maybe the two sides can play a game following the ceremony.
In seeking a request to reserve the park for the wedding, B.J. approached the park's director, Paul Pixley.
Fielding the request, Pixley said: "I looked and that date is when our Majors team will be at the state tournament. So it appears our season at Legendary Legion Field and Wedding Chapel will be such that we can host the wedding."
Apparently the soon-to-be newlyweds have given this wedding some thought.
They would like park regulars Dave Wilber to announce over the PA system and Darryl (Ballpark Frank) Reed to play the music.
They want to use the park's new locker room for the bridesmaids’ dressing room.
They would like to use the concession stand for the reception. Nothing but ballpark food. With one exception: cake and ice cream.
They would like to post their invitation on the electronic reader board outside the park.
When word of the wedding request began to spread, some of the park's longtime regulars had some suggestions.
Jim Perry said the groom might push the bride around the bases in the water-hose wheelbarrow following the ceremony.
Rather than tossing the bouquet, the bride could hit fungos to the attendees, Perry suggested.
"Wow! What a catch this girl is," Wayne McCombs added. "Does B.J. realize how lucky he is?"
McCombs suggested that the bridesmaids and groomsmen could hold bats, creating an archway for the couple, ala a military wedding.
Maybe a golf cart could bring the preacher in from the right field bullpen. He could be wearing umpire’s gear.
Instead of throwing rice, throw sunflower seeds.
The families could be seated in the dugouts.
Sing “Oh, Promise Me” to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
Whatever Jennie and B.J. decide to do for their wedding ceremony, it promises to be a fun night at the ballpark.