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Re-Union: The World's Largest Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony Sets New Guinness World Record(TM)

Guinness World Records(TM) requires extensive evidence of the event; consequently, photographic and video documentation, witness statements, media clips, and a photocopy of the original marriage certificate of each couple were organized, labeled, and mailed to theUnited Kingdom for approval. Earlier this week, Guinness World Records(TM) officially notified Carnegie Museums ofPittsburgh that the record claim was accepted, beating out the previous record of 272 couples who simultaneously renewed their vows inSydney, Australia, in September 2007.

The event was conceived by Kitty Julian, director of marketing at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History andReunion committee member, and organized by Leigh Kish, also of Carnegie Museums.Reunion committee co-chair, Esther Bush, was master of ceremonies. Co-chair Jeffrey Letwin, introduced the witnesses to the event: Judge Cynthia Baldwin; Allen Kukovich, Pittsburgh Office of Governor Rendell; Patrick Dowd,Pittsburgh City Councilman; and Rebecca Whitlinger, author of Always a Bridesmaid: 89 Ways to Recycle That Bridesmaid Dress. Recognition of participants was provided by Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, andCity of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl officiated. It was his first wedding ceremony as mayor.

"Achieving this record confirms to the world what we already know ofPittsburgh: it's a place where people are committed--to the city, to their community, and to each other," said James E. Rohr, Chairman of thePittsburgh 250th Anniversary Commission.

"This ceremony was probably the only way I would ever make it into the Guinness World Record so I signed us up as soon as I heard about it," said Lynne Glover, aPittsburgh resident who renewed wedding vows with her husband, Paul Alessio. But the icing on the proverbial wedding cake was that it turned out to be a really special evening, she added. "It sounds corny, but everything that night was just so sweet, romantic and even emotional. Paul and I simply had a wonderful time and we're glad to have been a part of making history, too."

Major sponsors for the event were TWOgether Pittsburgh, an intensive marriage support initiative in thePittsburgh area; Great Western Champagne; and radio sponsor Star 100.7.

Carnegie Museums ofPittsburgh

Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Museums ofPittsburgh is a

collection of four distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. In 2007, the museums reached nearly 1.4 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events. To learn more, visit the Carnegie Museums website at http://www.carnegiemuseums.org.

SOURCE Carnegie Museums ofPittsburgh; VisitPittsburgh