More than 200 couples got married at a Monday event in Russellville, Ark., just before the solar eclipse reached totality.
At an event titled, “Elope at the Eclipse,” hundreds of people gathered to tie the knot in the moments before totality, according to CNN and local reports. Totality there lasted 4 minutes.
The ceremony was slated to begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time and end at approximately 1:45 p.m. The eclipse reached totally at 1:50 p.m.
The ceremony was marketed as a “totally free wedding ceremony” that “even reimburses your $60 marriage license fee” and provided the first 100 couples to register with a free “wedding gift” package.
The event was part of the weekend-long Total Eclipse of the Heart festival, which included events each day including jazz bands, a presentation from NASA, specialty kites, axe throwing, cornhole and hot air balloon rides.
