Couple Weds at Taco Bell for Just $200

"We didn't want to do things in the traditional sense," new groom Paul Brooks told the Associated Press in an interview right after his wedding last Friday. "We're a little of an offbeat couple, so we wanted to have an offbeat ceremony."

And, by "offbeat" he meant in an orange booth at the Taco Bell in Normal, Illinois surrounded by patrons in line for their usual burrito fix. No, we're not kidding about this one, girls. Paul and his now-bride Caragh Brooks got engaged on New Year's Eve, and instead of heading to city hall they decided to get married at their favorite fast food joint.

The restaurant's manager, Carl Harmlow, said the request was certainly a first.

"I would never have expected in my life in working here there would be a wedding," he told reporters at the ceremony.

Guests snacked on tacos while employees showed off little sauce packets that read "Will you marry me?" Normal resident, and friend of the couple, Ryan Green, married the pair in a casual t-shirt. He was ordained online. The bride's hot pink dress cost just $15, and the final wedding total came up to just $200. (Paul and Caragh: 1, Recession: 0!)

"This is the way to go - there's no stress," the groom's mother, Kathy Brooks, told reporters.

Paul, 30, and Caragh, 21, who's from Australia, met online and after nine months of flirting by phone and e-mail, she decided to move to the United States to be with her true love. (The two already had the same last name.)

"We have the same brain, just in two bodies," said Paul.