ONTD Political

Obama Crashes Iowa Wedding, Leaves Note and Gift

1:58 am - 09/20/2012
On one of President Obama's trips to the metro earlier this month, he nearly crashed a young couple's wedding. But the bride and groom got a little something to make the situation easier to bear.

This metro couple had been planning their wedding at Living History Farms for six months. One week before the big day, they got some big news about an unexpected visitor.

Sayli Gibbs had her wedding day planned down to the last cupcake. "A rustic and vintage wedding. We thought the barn would be perfect for that."

What wasn't perfect for her and Jon's wedding on September first was a surprise rally by the President of the United States.

"Just our luck, type of thing," said Jon Gibbs "That's kind of how we were both like, oh yeah, figures the one place we choose, the president also chooses."

The couple laughs about it now but just before the nuptials the stress sank in. They found out the president might be staying late and they couldn't get in the parking lot that morning.

"We had to walk across Hickman with my wedding dress and suitcase," said Sayli. "We had about three different girls helping carrying it."

Luckily, the dress survived, and the president left early enough that the wedding went off without a hitch and ended unlike anything they'd ever imagined.

"Everything has the presidential seal," Jon said pulling out a bag.

Inside is a handwritten note that read, "Congratulations on the wedding. Michelle and I wish you a great life together. Barack Obama."

Also, a silver tray and a mint julep cup.

"I mean, what do you do with a mint julep cup? You have to make a mint julep," said Jon. "So I used it the first night for sure."

Jon and Sayli find it hard to believe the most powerful man in the world took the time to congratulate them. And even though neither one is a registered Democrat, they say it's still the coolest gift ever.

"Love him or hate him, it's a gift from the president," Jon said.

The two say they wouldn't re–do the wedding without the president because it's just too exciting of a story.

Jon has a suggestion for the president. The next wedding he crashes he should leave a gift of lifetime tax–exemption.

Source

OP: Fluff news piece is nothing but fluff, I know, but I can't help but be struck by the contrast between the simplicity of this gesture and Romney's varied failed attempts to appear human personable and relatable.
astridmyrna 20th-Sep-2012 06:04 am (UTC)
Awwww, how sweet! Wonder what Romney would do in that situation, leave a half a can of hundred dollar hair spray and then come back for it?
kyra_neko_rei 20th-Sep-2012 04:42 pm (UTC)
Not notice. Or else leave a card with a passive-aggressive comment on the sanctity of traditional, heterosexual marriage, and no gift.

(I shudder to think what Romney or his supporters would do if one of his rallies accidentally crashed a same-sex wedding.)
lilako 20th-Sep-2012 06:08 pm (UTC)
Leave a note with a half-assed congratulations on their heterosexual marriage in the first sentence and a reminder to vote for him, hand written by one of his aides, and "signed" with a signature stamp.
autumnleaving 20th-Sep-2012 07:45 pm (UTC)
"You, too, can elevate yourself from the 47% in such a way that Ann and I did. Here's to a great start!" Gift: Starbucks card, enough for a full cup of hot cocoa.
zinnia_rose 20th-Sep-2012 06:37 am (UTC)
That is pretty awesome! He's such a classy president.
recorded 20th-Sep-2012 07:26 am (UTC)
Those are strange gifts, aren't they? I didn't even know wtf a mint julep cup was until I googled it just now.
lilako 20th-Sep-2012 06:11 pm (UTC)
I didn't know what that was until just now, either. Apparently it's "associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States". I wonder how much that played into it. :)
highflyer8 20th-Sep-2012 07:38 pm (UTC)
They just seem like VERY traditional gifts to me. Like something your great aunt would get you for your wedding. Could be a southern thing though.
unclesamonmars 21st-Sep-2012 06:54 am (UTC)
lol. I'm from Kentucky so I didn't think much of it. I just assumed the couple was from the south but for Iowa it does seems a bit strange.
metanoiame 20th-Sep-2012 07:33 am (UTC)
BRING ON THE BREAD AND CIRCUSES!
applegnat 20th-Sep-2012 06:03 pm (UTC)
More circuses than bread.
lilako 20th-Sep-2012 06:11 pm (UTC)
This
natyanayaki 20th-Sep-2012 08:27 am (UTC)
That is so sweet, and the couple did deserve such a gesture!
tabaqui 20th-Sep-2012 10:46 am (UTC)
Ah, neat! They're right - awesome wedding story! I saw this on HuffPo, i think? And wow - the people whinging on about how the President shouldn't be wasting his time 'going to weddings'....

Yeesh. Now i have to wonder if little gifts like this are stashed away somewhere in a box or bin and *always* travel with the President.....? Heh.
carmy_w 20th-Sep-2012 01:41 pm (UTC)
I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of a swag bag that the team carries, or a closet with a few items in it tucked away somewhere.
astridmyrna 20th-Sep-2012 02:26 pm (UTC)
Then that means he's.....Santa Claus?
carmy_w 20th-Sep-2012 02:35 pm (UTC)
LOL! Hey, it could happen!

I recall reading in a Jimmy Buffett memoir that he carries a bag of swag with him whenever he goes traveling, for thank you gifts, small gifts/bribes/etc.
He puts in CDs, photos, copies of his books, that sort of stuff. That way, he can give a gift for a thank you, or to grease the wheels of bureacracy.
astridmyrna 20th-Sep-2012 03:16 pm (UTC)
If I ever become a famous enough writer to travel around to do book signings, I'm so bringing a bag of Cool Stuff with me that relates to whatever book I'm writing.
thenakedcat 20th-Sep-2012 05:51 pm (UTC)
I bet his protocol people (social secretary and such) have a stash of gifty things in case he has to cancel on someone and apologize or disrupt traffic patterns like in this case or hell, he just up and decides to stop and shake some hands.
stormqueen280 20th-Sep-2012 03:53 pm (UTC)
What's the problem with people, presidents are people too. Earlier this week the Brazilian president flew to another state for a relative's funeral, even returned in the same day, and people still complained. Geez.
queenbathory 20th-Sep-2012 11:40 am (UTC)
lol! I love him. But I'm waiting for the whole "what is he doing at weddings?" backlash
lilyginny27 20th-Sep-2012 12:38 pm (UTC)
I like how the article makes a point of saying they aren't registered Democrats; made me guffaw in non-surprise when I saw the tax exemption request.

But speaking of Romney, my mom told me she's offended how he and Ryan always appear with their shirt sleeves rolled up w no tie or jacket. She thinks it's demeaning and a bit patronizing to the Office of President [and us]. Like they aren't taking it seriously.
lone_concertina 20th-Sep-2012 01:28 pm (UTC)










There are plenty of things to dislike Romney and Ryan for. Not being able to handle the oppressive heat of the Midwest isn't one of them.
lestat 20th-Sep-2012 01:53 pm (UTC)
those arms
kaelstra 20th-Sep-2012 02:49 pm (UTC)
That is seriously a weird thing to latch onto, out of all the terribleness that is Romney, it's his lack of proper formal attire that gets her? lol
lilyginny27 20th-Sep-2012 03:59 pm (UTC)
It was a reaction from the day surrounding Romney's announcement of Ryan as VP. She didn't think that was the right moment to look like they were patronizing us poor ppl by trying to dress like us. She doesn't like them period, but that was just a blatant fuck you in the face as far as she was concerned. don't pretend to be like us when you're obviously not.
keyurcar 20th-Sep-2012 02:56 pm (UTC)
mte.. plus they both annoyingly always refer to people as "folks" to seem more relatable to the average American dumbass
lilyginny27 20th-Sep-2012 03:57 pm (UTC)
It's not a heat thing. It was a reaction from the day surrounding Romney's announcement of Ryan as VP. She didn't think that was the right moment to look like they were patronizing us poor ppl by trying to dress like us.
stormqueen280 20th-Sep-2012 03:54 pm (UTC)
LOL, she'd flip in Rio, politicians here wear short-sleeved shirts because of the heat (106 in the middle of winter, man)
lilyginny27 20th-Sep-2012 03:57 pm (UTC)
It's not a heat thing. It was a reaction from the day surrounding Romney's announcement of Ryan as VP. She didn't think that was the right moment to look like they were patronizing us poor ppl by trying to dress like us.
stormqueen280 20th-Sep-2012 04:07 pm (UTC)
I guess it's different here, everyone would wear short sleeves if they could.
lone_concertina 20th-Sep-2012 04:36 pm (UTC)
...she knows that people of all colors, genders, social class, etc roll up their sleeves, right? It's not a poor people thing to do.
lilyginny27 20th-Sep-2012 06:01 pm (UTC)
You do realize this entire thing is nothing more than the world's longest job interview, right? Would you apply for a job with this much power looking less than put together and expect ppl to take you seriously? I wouldn't apply for a 25k job looking less than professional, let alone a job that has a lot more zeros on the end. Hence, why we think it's demeaning to play it down, like they're "just like us." Fuck you, assholes! (i'm saying that to R&R, not you).
poetic_pixie_13 20th-Sep-2012 04:09 pm (UTC)
If Obama crashed my big fat lesbian Hindu wedding my partner would prolly be pissed. Because I'd spend the rest of the day fangirling that Barack Obama left me (lawl, not us, me) a wedding gift and loose focus on that whole, getting married to the person I love thing. >.>
alryssa 20th-Sep-2012 06:24 pm (UTC)
LMFAO



#gurl you better invite me to that wedding, because damn.
kitanabychoice 20th-Sep-2012 06:31 pm (UTC)
D'aww, cute. :3 Although lol, lifetime tax exemption? How about nooooo.
rezoom 21st-Sep-2012 05:04 am (UTC)
Love this! But ONE mint julep cup, for a couple married in IOWA (not Kentucky)?

I smell a re-gift!

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