Weddings Celebrate Love ... of Running

Lindsey Folio and her fiance are trying to tie in running wherever they can for their upcoming wedding. Plans include a starting line on the aisle and race bags in guest rooms. Here are their race bib save-the-date cards.

Drew and Kristen Rabun met in the Savannah Striders Running Club in Savannah, Georgia. Their unofficial first date was a short five-to-six-mile loop run, which turned into a 14-mile out and back. “I had no choice but to hang on and keep running...and that was the prerace warmup of our life marathon,” says Kristen. To get rid of prewedding jitters, the couple ran a 5K on their wedding day. Drew won. Kristen and her dad crossed the finish line together as the race director announced, “Here comes the bride and her dad!.” Their running-themed wedding included race bib invites (which Kristen designed), a running bride and groom cake topper and bridesmaids in running shoes.

Several weeks before her wedding in October 2013 Erinn Black Salge ran a bachelorette 5K (her own invention) with some of her closest female friends, complete with T-shirts, a tiara, and brunch. “I heard congratulations all along the course and felt accomplished in getting a few nonrunners to join in the training and satisfaction of racing!” says Erinn.

Laminated bib numbers double as table numbers at Elizabeth Clor's wedding. It's a fun, budget-friendly way to incorporate running into a wedding.

Greg and Jenny Massanelli met through running local races in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the 2014 Brooklyn Marathon. the bride wore a white running dress (really a tennis dress) with a veil, garter, and blue shoes. The groom wore a tuxedo-print tech shirt. They crossed the finish line holding hands, which they often do. “We will be celebrating our one-year anniversary in New York City this year by running the NYC Marathon,” Jenny says, adding they've also qualified together for the Boston Marathon in 2016.

Sabrina Trimmier's first date with her husband was a five-mile run and running continues to be a huge part of their relationship. Her mother made a runner-themed groom's cake that shows the couple running down their favorite trail with their two German shepherd mixes.

Katie Rutkowski and her wife Greta incorporated their love of running in every step of the way to their wedding, from Greta's proposal after finishing the Chicago Marathon to running references in their wedding vows. This is their save-the-date photo to let everyone know they planned to “tie the knot.” “We're truly in it for the long run together, and each and every day I look forward to the miles ahead!” Katie writes.

Bride Christina Papoulias insists it was a coincidence that the couple first danced to “I Can't Wait” by the band Runner Runner. But it was no coincidence that their May 18, 2013, wedding included a running-themed seating chart and placecards. The bride and groom wore Mr. and Mrs. running bibs and entered the reception to Bruce Springsteen's “Born To Run,” crossing a finish line their parents held up.

They met on the cross-country and track teams at Williams College in Massachusetts so Steve and Lauren Philbrook chose to get married there. They did not actually attempt this hurdle, Lauren tells us.

Christine Suter was treated to a three-mile run and breakfast with her “bride posse” before her afternoon wedding on June 13, 2015.

Anthony Davalos and fiancée Nikki are getting married September 13, 2015, in Great Falls, Montana. He's a runner; she's a charity event coordinator They're planning a 5K Wedding Fun Run and Free Community Day in the Park. They've been holding charity fundraiser events all year, as well as food and sock drives. The big day will include a 5K fun run for charity and a community day in the park. They plan to marry at the start line and then run the 5K in their wedding attire.

Christine Wright, her sister, and niece break the finish line tape during the Runaway Bride 5K on the morning of her wedding day. About 40 family members and friends joined her.

This cake looks too cute to cut. There were two cakes at the wedding, Jason Maderer tells us.

Heather Klopfenstein's closest guy friends/running buddies surprised her during a run in Indianapolis on the morning of her June 14, 2014, wedding. The bride's aunt made her a special outfit for the day. It looks like the guys didn't want to be left out.

Rachel Page and her husband were married at the finish line of a half marathon. To signify walking her down the aisle, Rachel's father ran the last mile with her. The couple's wedding invitations were reminiscent of a running bib complete with their wedding date. The couple plans to celebrate their one-year anniversary by running a full marathon together.

This is how Cara Short and her husband announced their engagement. Among the running-themed touches at their wedding: The ring bearers wore running shoes and carried signs that said, “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step!”

Brendan Rickert proposed to his fiancée in the Boston Public Garden on the night before the Boston Marathon. He ran 2:58 the next day.

On the morning of their wedding, Leah Lanier and husband Scott ran a half marathon. Leah was second overall female and Scott finished first in his age group. They turned around, picked up their flowers, dressed, and were married that afternoon.

Paul Simons and his wife Bev met through running. He ran for Shaftsbury Harriers in London; she ran for Salford Harriers in Manchester, England. This is their wedding cake.

Elizabeth Quealy knows there are benefits to having a dad who is a running coach, such as free running advice. Her dad trained her through multiple races, including a marathon about a week before her wedding. She surprised him, bringing his running shoes to wear for their father-daughter dance. She wore hers, too.