Amid a half-dozen flashing cameras, David Bowling, married his fiancée Meghan Jope under the Ferris wheel at the Marshfield Fair in a ceremony officiated by Marshfield Justice of the Peace Anne Larivier on Tuesday. (GREG DERR/The Patriot Ledger)

By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
The Patriot Ledger

MARSHFIELD - It was going to be a no-fuss wedding - the bride in a green prom dress and the groom in a matching green shirt.

But at the last minute, the fairy godmothers of the fair stepped in with a white gown, festive carousel music, award-winning flowers and a Ferris-wheel-topped wedding cake.

And with a half-dozen cameras taking photos of the couple, the newlyweds became the sight to see at the Marshfield Fair.

‘‘I was just expecting the justice of the peace, me, Dave, a couple of people,’’ said Meghan Jope, who married David Bowling on Tuesday morning at the foot of the fair’s Ferris wheel, ‘‘but it turned out to be a big thing, which I was really pleased with.’’

Bowling, 31, of Norwalk, Ohio, works at the balloon-popping game. Jope, 23, of Foxboro, works at the fried-dough stand. They met at a carnival six years ago and reunited at that same carnival last month.

They were planning a small civil ceremony, but they learned Monday night that Marshfield Fair organizers had something bigger in mind. Click here to see a slideshow.

Fair directors, vendors and volunteers donated a cake from a local bakery, flowers from the horticultural exhibits, a makeover, photography and a wedding dress from a shop on the midway. Fiesta Shows provided bubbles and music from the merry-go-round.

‘‘People chipped in and it turned out great,’’ said Leonard LaForest, president of the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which organizes the fair.

ope said she brought the green prom dress she bought at Macy’s to the fair office to get dressed, but everyone there encouraged her to wear the white one. Someone even gave Bowling one of her husband’s white shirts and ties to wear at the ceremony, Jope said.

‘‘I thought it was kind of crazy,’’ said Jope’s bridesmaid, Megan Bennett of Foxboro. ‘‘I think it was awesome how they had everything set up, how everything was done.’’

Jope said she changed back into the green dress after the ceremony. She said she would never forget her fairy-tale wedding.

‘‘For a spur of the moment thing, it was a good wedding overall,’’ she said. ‘‘I can’t even explain it. I just wanted to cry - in a happy way.’’

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com .

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Wednesday, August 22, 2007