Wedding In A Week Winds Up

Wedding in a Week couple Melissa Rihn and Marc Stein, who exchanged vows on The Early Show plaza Friday morning, got some wedding presents when they returned Monday morning.

Photographer David Salomone presented the couple with their wedding album. Then, Rosanna McCollough from the WeddingChannel.com gave the couple a honeymoon and a wedding gift. The trip and the "registry" were up for vote on The Early Show Web site.

Viewers chose to send the newlyweds to Tahiti for their honeymoon. (The other choices were Hawaii, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia.)

Voters also had a choice between three different "registries:" a culinary package from Williams-Sonoma, a bed-and-bath package from Bloomingdales, and an outdoor adventure package from REI. The viewers' choice was the outdoor adventure package from REI, and the Steins received a $2,500 gift certificate to that store.

Most couples have to wait weeks to receive a completed wedding album, but the Wedding in a Week couple received theirs Monday morning, thanks to David Salomone.

Even as the wedding ceremony was going on Friday, the reception crew at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park fussed over finishing touches on the ballroom.

"We got here at 8 last night," Bentley Meeker, lighting director, reported on Friday. "We worked until about 3 this morning, and then we came back at about 8 this morning."

When the bride, groom and wedding guests arrived, everything was in place for cocktail hour. But there was one surprise left for Marc and Melissa: they got to spend their wedding night in the Presidential Suite at the Ritz Carlton.

But first came the reception, with dancing and toasts.

Michael Rihn (father of the bride): "After Marc came into our lives, it was apparent that there was a very special relationship developing, and we soon realized that he was the one… We couldn't have asked for a better person for our Melissa, even if we had the ability to choose him for ourselves."

Mike Roberts (best man): "The person you're supposed to be with accentuates every great thing about you, everything that makes you you, everything that makes everyone love you. And that's what Melissa does for Marc, and that's what Marc does for Melissa."

Rebecca Rihn (maid of honor and sister of the bride): "It's truly kismet that has brought us here to this moment."

Then Rebecca; her father, Michael, and a friend sang "LOVE" ("L is for the way Marc looks at you…") in tribute to the happy couple. Later, Melissa and Marc sang a song together, too.

After dancing the afternoon away to the music of the Hank Lane Band, the happy guests left with favors of Dylan's candy and champagne, and ended the day with a sunset cruise on the Spirit of New York.

The party wound down around 5 p.m., but Marc and Melissa's evening was just getting started. The Early Show provided them with ickets to the Jessica Simpson concert at Radio City Music Hall. This may not be the way you would choose to spend your first evening as husband and wife, but Melissa is a big fan of Jessica's, and she was thrilled.

Special thanks to:

Ritz Carlton Battery Park
Modern Bride Magazine
Wedding Channel.com

Kleinfeld's Bridal
Kleinfeld's Fine Jewelry
Julie Clevering & Dana Ornstein - Hair and makeup for bride and bridal party
Macy's - Groom's tuxedo
Men's Wearhouse - Groomsmen's tuxedos
Lazaro - Bridesmaids dresses
Paul Tacorian of Tacori - Wedding rings

Perrier Jouet - Champagne
Ellen Weldon Design - Calligraphy
David Stark from Avi Adler - Flowers and tabletops
Polly Schoonmaker from Polly's Cakes - Wedding cakes
Bentley Meeker - Lighting
Dylan's Candy Bar - Favors
The Knot - Favors
Marcus Samuelsson and Riingo - Rehearsal dinner
Gray Line - Transportation
Spirit Cruises

David Salomone and The Studio Photographers - Wedding photos
Hank Lane Music - Reception band