Saturday, July 17, 2004
The record-holder is still single despite myths about bouquet-catching.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
The world's best wedding bouquet catcher has nabbed another one, this time in Atlanta.
Stephanie Monyak, 41, of South Strabane, Pa., worked her flower-grasping magic again during a May wedding of her boyfriend's nephew in Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Unexpected last-second protocol put her in position to claim the red roses.
The Guinness Book of Records sent Monyak a letter Jan. 28 confirming she's the world record holder with nine nabs of bridal bouquets since 1983. She plans to submit evidence to Guinness, including a videotape of the bouquet toss, to extend her record to 10.
She's working to document two other times she caught bouquets, but has yet to gather requisite evidence to prove those cases. There was yet one other bouquet catching years ago, she said, but she cannot remember whose wedding it was.
In all, she claims to have caught 13 bouquets.
Change in plans
In the most recent attempt, Monyak and her boyfriend drove to the "blue-blood wedding" in Atlanta at the last minute after problems arose with their flight plans. When it came time for the bouquet toss, she found herself behind a phalanx of bridesmaids, all in high heels, and felt her chances were nil behind such a formidable female palisade.
But in a curious break in tradition, each woman in the throng was told she first must kiss the groom to qualify to catch the bouquet. After that lip-smacking procedure, she ended up in the front row. Despite her ideal position, the dozen roses flew over her head, landing on a chair behind her. She was first to grab the bouquet. "There was no fighting," she said. "Nothing goofy."
Not desperate
Monyak, a registered nurse, has attended more than 50 weddings in her lifetime and admits to enjoying them. Although she said there's some embarrassment with the record, because of the misperception that she's single and desperate to marry, she will continue her quest for more bouquets.
The key reason is sport rather than myths about bouquet-catching. She has completed four marathons, hiked the Grand Canyon twice, flown in a hot-air balloon and bungee jumped. Bouquet-catching is just another challenge.
"I don't do it because I want to get married," she said. "I do it because it's a competitive thing."