Opening act for Urbandale couple?s wedding: The Obama campaign

Sayli and Jon Gibbs wanted to get married at Living History Farms in Urbandale on Sept. 1. They couldn?t escape politics.

Sayli Gibbs made the wedding arrangements for the Urbandale couple about six months ahead of time, and everything was going smoothly until she heard from a Living History Farms employee that ?something big? was going to be happening on the same day as her wedding.

?I kind of just assumed it was going to be the president,? Gibbs said. ?That was the first thing I thought. A couple days later she called and she confirmed that it was president Obama that was coming.?

Gibbs learned that Obama would be holding a rally in the exact place her wedding was supposed to be.

Obama was scheduled to be done at 4 and her wedding wasn?t until 7, and Gibbs said she wasn?t worried until they actually reached the hotel across from Living History Farms and saw it blocked off.

?Of course there was tons of traffic and no one was allowed to get into the hotel parking lot or any other parking lot by Living History Farms,? Gibbs said. ?Secret Service just would not let anyone in.?

Gibbs said she and her bridesmaids had to carry her wedding dress, her suitcase and all her bridesmaids? clothes across Hickman Road in order to get ready.

Luckily for them, Obama?s rally kept to its schedule and they were able to set up in time.

?The wedding started on time, Obama was gone on time, and everything worked out,? Gibbs said.

Obama didn?t leave without acknowledging the couples? happy day, though. He left behind a parting gift with a personal touch.

?Jon knew about the gift ahead of time but he wanted it to be a surprise for me,? Gibbs said. ?At the reception, the event coordinator for Living History Farms came into the barn and she had a bag with the presidential seal on it. I was like ?no way.? ?

Inside the bag was a silver tray with the presidential seal and Obama?s engraved signature, as well as a handwritten note reading ?Congratulations on the wedding. Michelle and I wish you a great life together. Barack Obama.?

The bag also contained a julep cup with the same seal and engraved signature to match the tray.

?We?re not sure exactly what to do with it,? Gibbs said. ?It?s not displayed yet, but we are going to frame the note for sure and display that.?

Gibbs said the president?s gifts left an impression, but he hadn?t clinched her vote yet.

?The fact that he took the time to do that, I mean obviously he?s a busy guy, really showed his character, but I still haven?t decided who I?m going to vote for,? Gibbs said.

Photos are courtesy of Loren Ekart, lorenpaul.squarespace.com

Tags: living history farms, President Obama

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IowaPolitics/~3/cAWVRq5EdSw/

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