How to throw a wedding party on the cheap

From the Centre Daily Times on Wednesday.  And yes, that is the happy couple shown above - note the link from the picture in the CDT to buy a copy of the photo.  Maybe Mr. Phillips and Ms. Lurch would like to purchase a few copies as a remembrance:

Newlyweds charged with shoplifting supplies for wedding reception

By CDT staff reports

Posted: 11:26am on Aug 24, 2011; Modified: 10:37am on Aug 25, 2011

A newlywed couple is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from  Wegmans Saturday that police say they intended to use at their wedding reception later that afternoon.  The value of the stolen items totaled $1,049.26, police said.

Arthur Phillips III, 32, and Brittany M. Lurch, 22, both of Centre Hall, married Aug. 18, and scheduled their wedding reception for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. But at 2:30 p.m., Patton Township police were called to Wegmans in the Colonnade shopping center for a report of a retail theft.

They watched the couple on surveillance camers put items in their shopping cart, and walk out to their car without paying, according to an affidavit filed by police. They then arrested Phillips and Lurch, who told police the items were intended for their reception.

The couple didn’t make it to the reception. Charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanors, Phillips and Lurch remain in Centre County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail.

When searching their car for the stolen items, police said they found a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue, and Phillips also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

They each waived their right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.