NBC's Today Show has revealed that St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City is one of four possible locations for wedding couple Mark Dale and Sarah Raley's "Hometown Wedding". Now, it is up to the public to decide the wedding location by casting votes at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8544668/, beginning today, Monday, August 1 through Thursday, August 4. The winning location will be announced on NBC's Today Show, the morning of Friday, August 5, 2005.
The wedding couple is from Southern Maryland. St. Mary's City is significant because Sarah Raley, her brother, and her father graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland. If this location receives the most votes, the wedding and reception will be broadcast live from St. Mary's City, Maryland, on NBC's nationally televised morning show on Friday, September 16, 2005.
"Holding the wedding in St. Mary's County would be a wonderful way to showcase the beauty and history of our County and our region and encourage folks to visit," said Carolyn Laray, Tourism Manager, St. Mary's County Department of Economic and Community Development.
The Board of County Commissioners believes that a hometown wedding is as much about the spirit of family, friends and community as it is about place. "Mark and Sarah's journey has been marked by such an outpouring of support by local citizens, and it's difficult to think this warm community spirit will be duplicated at any of the other locations," said Thomas F. McKay, President, Board of County Commissioners.
Votes by Southern Maryland citizens were instrumental in Mark and Sarah's selection as the wedding couple on NBC's nationally broadcast morning show. Lawn signs, email lists, and announcements on somd.com urging the community to vote were all employed to help the couple win. A local effort will also be critical in the selection of the wedding location.