Tying the knot, redneck style
ENTERPRISE — Here comes the bride, all dressed in … camo.
Deja Lichty took the most important vows she will ever say with a beer in her hand, wearing a camouflage wedding dress. Her groom to be, Michael Dawson, would not settle for “I do”, when asked if he took the lady in camouflage to be his lawfully wedded wife.
With all the redneck he could muster, Dawson uttered a guttural yell that echoed throughout the Bama Slam Saloon at BamaJam.
“Git-R-Done!”
With that, Deja Lichty of Panama City, Fla., became Deja Dawson at BamaJam’s Redneck Wedding on Saturday night, the brainchild of the BamaJam folks and a promotion organized by two area radio stations.
“We just wanted to do something different,” said Dawson, who got married in overalls and little else. “Nobody else has ever done anything like this. We figured, why not?”
Jessica Buchanan and Eric Harmon of Phenix City also got married on the Budweiser Stage at BamaJam Saturday night. Buchanan chose the traditional wedding dress. Harmon chose a dress coat lined in camouflage.
“This is the most fun I’ve ever had,” Buchanan said. “All of those pre-wedding jitters? They aren’t there.”
This was, as billed, a redneck wedding in every sense of the word.
The brides were driven to the stage on the back of a gator. The grooms walked briskly behind, especially Harmon, who begged for a bathroom break.
Dawson wandered off to find a camera, but there were plenty of flashes popping in front of the Budweiser stage. This redneck wedding was attended by hundreds of ... strangers.
Shirts were optional for the wedding party.
And forget the traditional wedding march. Deja and Michael walked off stage as man and wife to the sound of Hank Williams Jr. Jessica and Eric celebrated nuptials to a little Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.
And to those who would say this is not the correct way to get married, well, they don’t really care. They love each other, they say.
“After we met, Eric told me he had a cold heart, that he could never love anybody,” Jessica said.
“Today, I love her with all of my heart,” Eric said.
Reader Reactions
I was married twice, the “traditional way”. Having a Pastor didn’t make either wife work out any better. Both turned out to be two timing $1ut$. I got rid of them both.
I suppose spending $10,000.00 or more on a wedding would more appropriate for some of you, but in the end, these guys are no less married.
I see most of you disapprovers are the common “Gilley Haters” anyway. At least that’s what most of your other posts seem to indicate. I guess anything to try to give BamaJams, Country Crossings, or any other project he has his hands in, a bad name seems to be your agenda. Guess that’s ok, but just know that those of us that read most of these posts can see the pattern. It’s the same people EVERY TIME. Guess it really doesn’t matter, I say goodbye to you each time I flush the toilet. But then, there’s always, “THE FLOATERS”.
This is to the ones who are bad mouthing this…. Yall need to go where yall came from… And if you are from the SOUTH then get over it… This is the South so yes there are Rednecks! If you don’t like it then maybe you should move North to be a Yankee… Sure wouldn’t hurt our feelings any…
To the couples who got married.. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! There is NOTHING wrong with how yall got married! All that matters is that you had fun and that yall are married!
I HATE people who live in the South but are not proud of it….
The ones in cammo, were my friends, and all of you who bad mouthed them, don’t know them or know the whole story, but now that its a done deal…...they had all the plans for a traditional wedding w/family and friends already into process when Deja found out she had won the redneck wedding, It was too late to cancel their plans and wouldn’t anyways cause there good people and know its a very important step in there lives, and who out there would pass up free 3 day passes, hotel etc.. to do it?!! It was just fun for them, So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!!! Anyways congradulations Deja and Mike and I hope ya’ll live a long and happy life togather, God bless, Jennifer
Wow some Christian you are “The Truth”.. How about hypocritcal… Perhaps you should reread the Bible and get back into better touch with the Lord.
I’ll pray for you.
First I would like to say congratulations to the newlywed couples. I hope you live a long and happy life together!
Second, I want to meet the person who made it a LAW that in order to be “southern born and bred” you had to get married in a church with a pastor. I am SOOOO sorry, but my father-in-law is a pastor and he married us at Highland Oaks Golf Course. I SERIOUSLY hope you get off your high horse and get over yourself..
These couples wanted to get married, and the reasons behind it are THEIR business, not any of ya’lls.
I dont believe I have seen in the Bible where it says, “THOU MUST BE WED IN A CHURCH”.
Please open your mind up to new things, this is 2009, NOT 1950.
I would like to wish these couples congratulations and hope that they will always remember and uphold the vows that they have taken. Life it too short and filled with much difficulty. Be strong in your love and faith and always treat each other with respect.
God bless you all.
Those of you who have said such awful things about these couples, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Last time I heard this was America and my God does not look kindly on judging other folks who choose to do things differently than you.
I am sorry that you all feel this way about me and my bride. Yes I am one of the couples who got married. I am a die hard christian and southerner, and really don’t care what anyone thinks or says. We did this because we love each other and wanted to have fun doing it. We weren’t trying to get our name in the sport light or make money, we did it cause we are easy going people who love to have fun. To all of you who are judging us, you might wanna levae that up to God, because He is the only one who can judge. Thank you to all who have congratulated us.
A reply to the last comment . THANK YOU. I agree.
Who cares how or where these couples got married or hitched.They didnt ask you to stand there and watch.I didnt know any of the couples,but i think its funny so many people would so quickly pass judgment on these couples,thought that was a sin?It doesnt matter if you think it was a southern way of doin that or not! They love each other they are now married and i wish them only the best! and for all you hatters out there STAY AT HOME NEXT YEAR im sure we wont miss your stuck up @$$*$
At least it was a white couple , a man and a woman, and not another fatherless child that we have to take care of.
They will remember this forever. so sweet. Other people have there opinions I have mine. This is America everyone is entitled to there own opinion.
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