Wait. People actually got married at a bowl game? Yeah. They did. It wasn’t just a marketing stunt or a fever dream fueled by orange cracker dust. When you think about college football bowl season, you’re usually thinking about the transfer portal, opt-outs, and maybe a giant bucket of mayonnaise being dumped on a coach's head. But for one couple, the Cheez-It Bowl wedding became the literal centerpiece of their life story.
It sounds chaotic. Maybe a little greasy? But in the world of brand-obsessed fandom, it was actually kind of a genius move.
We aren't talking about a casual ceremony in the parking lot. This was a full-blown, sanctioned, orange-tinted event. It happened during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Florida. While Florida State and Oklahoma were gearing up to smash into each other on the field at Camping World Stadium, a couple was busy saying "I do" in what can only be described as the most crunch-heavy nuptials in human history.
The Reality of the Cheez-It Bowl Wedding
So, who were the people behind this? Their names are Meagan Weldon and David "Nacho" Atchley.
They didn't just stumble into this. They were selected as the "ultimate superfans" through a contest. Honestly, if you’re going to get married at a sporting event sponsored by a snack cracker, you have to lean into the bit completely. They did. They flew down to Orlando and leaned into the Cheez-It "Feeling the Cheeziest" mantra with a level of commitment that most people reserve for, I don’t know, buying a house or having kids.
The ceremony wasn't hidden away in a back office. It was public.
There was a dedicated "Cheez-It Wedding" space. We’re talking about an orange carpet. Not red. Orange. There were flowers, sure, but the color palette was strictly "Cheddar Jack" and "Original." It’s the kind of thing that sounds tacky on paper—and maybe it was—but there’s something genuinely human about two people deciding that their shared love for a snack and a football game is the right vibe for their eternal union.
Why This Isn't Just a Gimmick
Brands do this stuff all the time, right?
Taco Bell has a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. People get married at Dunkin'. But the Cheez-It Bowl wedding felt different because it tapped into the weird, hyper-specific culture of American bowl games. These games are already bizarre. We have the Pop-Tarts Bowl where a giant toaster pastry mascot "dies" and gets eaten by the winning team. We have the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
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In that context, a wedding is actually the most normal thing that could happen.
The couple wore traditional attire, but with "cheesy" accents. Nacho—yes, that is his actual nickname—wore an orange bowtie. Meagan had a bouquet that featured, you guessed it, orange tones. They were surrounded by Cheez-It branding that would make a corporate executive weep with joy. But look at the photos from that day. They look happy. Like, actually happy. They weren't just props; they were fans who got a free, high-production wedding in exchange for letting a brand tag along.
The Logistics of a Stadium Wedding
You might be wondering how this actually works. You can't just walk onto the 50-yard line during the second quarter and start reciting vows. The timing was precise.
The ceremony took place before kickoff. It’s a logistical nightmare to coordinate stadium security, team warm-ups, and a legal marriage ceremony all in the same 60-minute window. Most people don't realize that for a Cheez-It Bowl wedding to be legal, you still need a Florida marriage license, an officiant who is recognized by the state, and witnesses who aren't currently distracted by a kickoff return.
- The venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando.
- The date: December 29, 2022.
- The vibe: High-energy, loud, and very, very orange.
- The guest list: A few friends, family, and roughly 60,000 strangers in the stands.
It’s definitely not for the introverts. If you have social anxiety, the idea of your face being projected on a massive Jumbotron while you're trying to remember your vows is a literal nightmare. But for Meagan and David, it was the peak of their fandom.
The Impact on Bowl Game Culture
For years, bowl games were just about the football. Then they became about the sponsors. Now, they're about the "experience."
The Cheez-It Bowl wedding was a turning point. It showed that fans aren't just spectators anymore; they want to be part of the show. This event generated millions of impressions on social media. People were tweeting about the "Cheez-It couple" more than they were talking about the actual play-calling in the first half.
It’s a weird shift in how we consume sports. We aren't just watching a game; we're watching a lifestyle brand interact with real humans. Some people hate it. They think it cheapens the sport. Others—mostly younger fans—think it’s hilarious and memorable. Honestly, who remembers the score of the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl? (It was 35-32, FSU won, by the way). But everyone remembers the wedding.
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Breaking Down the "Cheesy" Details
The reception wasn't exactly a sit-down dinner with salmon or prime rib.
Think more along the lines of stadium snacks. The Cheez-It brand is owned by Kellogg’s (well, now Kellanova), and they didn't miss a beat. There were specialized snacks. There was a cake that looked like a giant box of crackers.
If you’re planning something like this—or even just a themed party—you have to go all in. If you do it halfway, it just looks like you ran out of money and bought whatever was on sale at the grocery store. To make a Cheez-It Bowl wedding work, the commitment to the bit has to be 100%.
Legal and Practical Hurdles
Could you do this yourself? Probably not without a massive sponsorship deal.
Stadiums are private property. They have exclusive contracts with vendors. If you tried to get married in the stands of a bowl game today, security would likely ask you to move within five minutes. The reason this specific wedding worked was the partnership between the Florida Citrus Sports (the organizers) and the brand.
- Permits: You need stadium clearance and insurance.
- Photography: Getting clear shots in a stadium with weird lighting and thousands of moving people is a professional's nightmare.
- Audio: How do you hear the vows over the marching band? You don't, unless you're mic'd into the stadium PA system.
It's a production. It’s a TV show. It just happens to end with a legal marriage.
Is the Trend Continuing?
Since the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl wedding, we've seen a surge in "brand weddings."
People are realizing that traditional weddings are incredibly expensive. The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is now hovering around $30,000. If a brand offers to pick up the tab, fly you out, and give you a story that literally no one else in your hometown has? People are going to take that deal.
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However, there's a risk of "activation fatigue." After the first few times a brand does this, it stops being "quirky" and starts being "ad copy." The reason the Cheez-It one worked was because it was one of the first of its kind in the bowl game space. It felt authentic to the weirdness of Orlando in December.
What You Can Learn From It
You probably aren't going to get married at a football game this year. But the Cheez-It Bowl wedding offers some genuine insights into modern event planning and brand loyalty.
First, niche is better than broad. People didn't care about "a wedding at a football game." They cared about a "Cheez-It wedding." The specificity is what made it viral.
Second, the "experience economy" is real. We value stories more than we value fancy centerpieces. David and Meagan have a story that will last forever. They have a physical connection to a moment in sports history. That's worth more than a fancy ballroom at a Marriott.
Third, don't be afraid to be "cringe." If you love something—whether it's a cracker, a team, or a specific hobby—lean into it. The internet might laugh for a second, but you’re the one with the free trip to Florida and the lifetime supply of snacks.
Actionable Steps for Planning a Themed Event
If you’re looking to capture some of that Cheez-It Bowl wedding energy for your own event, you don't need a corporate sponsor. You just need a clear vision.
- Pick a "Hero" Element: For them, it was the cracker. For you, it might be a specific movie, a color, or a hobby. Everything should tie back to that one thing.
- Vary the Textures: Don't just use one shade of your theme color. The Cheez-It wedding used deep oranges, yellows, and even "toasted" browns. It makes it look professional, not like a child's birthday party.
- Focus on the "Why": The couple chose this because they were genuine fans. If you do a theme just because it's trendy, it'll feel hollow.
- Document Everything: Use a high-quality photographer who understands how to handle "busy" backgrounds. If you're in a public space, the background is your biggest enemy.
- Check the Regulations: If you're doing a pop-up ceremony in a public or semi-public space, always check the local ordinances for "expressive conduct" or "public gatherings."
The Cheez-It Bowl wedding remains a weird, bright spot in the history of college football. It represents the intersection of love, marketing, and the absolute absurdity of American sports culture. It wasn't just a ceremony; it was a 60-minute commercial for the idea that being a "superfan" can actually pay off in ways you'd never expect.
Next time you’re sitting on your couch, eating a box of crackers and watching a random bowl game between two teams you don't care about, remember David and Meagan. They proved that you can find romance in the most processed, orange-colored places imaginable.
And honestly? That’s kinda beautiful.
To recreate the vibe of a high-energy "brand" event, focus on bold, saturated colors and interactive elements that force guests to engage with the theme rather than just looking at it. Use lighting—specifically LED washes in your primary theme color—to transform a standard room into something that feels like a stadium "activation." Finally, ensure your "catering" matches the aesthetic; if your theme is a snack, that snack needs to be present in at least three different forms (the raw product, a flavor profile in a main dish, and a visual representation in the decor).