John and Elizabeth Edwards celebrate 30th anniversary with renewal of vows, Wendy's dinner

[DeepModem Mom]

WP "Reliable Source": 30 Years Later, New Vows and a Tryst at Wendy's

John and Elizabeth Edwards took a break from the campaign trail to celebrate their 30th anniversary yesterday by renewing their vows. The couple wrote new vows for the private ceremony at their Chapel Hill home; the small group in attendance included kids Cate, Emma Claire and Jack. Then they headed to their favorite romantic restaurant: Wendy's.

The two law school students wed on July 30, 1977, just days after graduating from UNC and taking the bar exam. The 24-year-old groom gave his 28-year-old bride an $11 ring (she's still wearing it); the honeymoon in Williamsburg lasted one night. On their first anniversary, they were in the midst of a move and dropped by Wendy's for dinner -- a tradition they've repeated every year since. Last night, the renewlyweds dined at the hometown fast-food joint; he had a cheeseburger and iced tea, she had chili and a Frosty.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20... (Scroll down.)

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. To both of them, I say

Conga rats on 30 years together!

(What, you didn't know that 30 is the Dancing Rodents Anniversary?)

[bluestateguy]

2. I wonder if they would maintain that tradition during his presidency

Wendy's would love the free advertising too.

[patricia92243]

10. Didn't Bill go go McDonalds a lot?

[Penndems]

11. He sure did - the one near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

I think there's a photograph on the wall of that Mickey D's of the manager, staff and former President Clinton.

[bluestateguy]

17. I believe he did a few times, early in his presidency

But the Washington cocktail party crowd tut-tutted that it wasn't "presidential", and he stopped.

[spooky3]

3. Congratulations, John and Elizabeth, may you have many more!

k&r

[colorado_ufo]

4. The best possible use of my 1,000th post -

To wish these two wonderful people long life, continued love, and the greatest of happiness and success. Their gift to me is an image to hold - all day, today - of a world filled with people like these. If that were reality, we would not need a heaven.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Beautiful, colorado_ufo -- and congratulations to you! nt

[xultar]

5. I just love them so much. CongratulationsIII

[jsamuel]

7. now I'm hungry...

[David__77]

8. I love Wendy's.

I think that's touching and romantic. Maybe I'm weird.

[TwilightZone]

9. I always have to laugh about the Wendy's part.

My wife and I ate at Wendy's several times on our honeymoon (about 15 years after the Edwards) because we were young and broke!

[mzmolly]

12. That is so sweet.

I think the next time I travel to Wendy's a chili and a frosty is in order as a toast to the great lady and her lucky husband.

[Penndems]

13. Congratulations to former Senator and Mrs. Edwards on their thirtieth anniversary!

May you have many, many more happy years of wedded bliss.

[illinoisprogressive]

14. wonder if they can get us some burgers and fries while they are there. lol happy 30th

[IronLionZion]

15. note to self: make sure first anniversary is at Wendy's

and I'll have to give her an $11 ring. Hmm...maybe that's why no one wants to marry me.

John Edwards is a brilliant man. I like how he has taste in women a few years older than himself. So do I.

Congrats to the Edwards, and hopefully you'll move to the white house soon.

[benny05]

16. Yeah, the future First Couple

I love the expression, renewlyweds!

I see he has a Barnstorm tour in Iowa coming up next month..

http://johnedwards.com/iowa/20070731-iowa-bus-tour /

[JDPriestly]

19. I have a feeling that Edwards will win.

He appears to be lagging now, but my intuition tells me that he will win. I don't know why.

[JDPriestly]

18. May they enjoy 30 more wonderful years together.

I love this story. Most marriages are, in the last analysis, pretty happy (even some that end in divorce, believe it or not).

I believe that being able to really love someone is the greatest gift that life can give. I am enjoying my long marriage. I recommend marriage with the caveat that you have to bring the capacity to love or the willingness to learn to love to the marriage.

After my many years of marriage, I have come to believe that "the capacity to love" is a combination of selflessness, egolessness and self-respect. It is a tricky balance, but the exercise of finding that balance prevents boredom and keeps lovers aware and engaged in their relationship.

The maxim "talk is cheap" does not apply to lovers. While a good relationship requires action and not just "talk," in my opinion, "talk" is the means through which most couples who succeed in marriage or long relationships strengthen their relationship.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Thank you for this post! Best to you. nt

[Forkboy]

21. He should have slipped an onion ring on her finger and reproposed.

I tell ya,the guy has no class whatsoever.

[wicket]

22. Best of luck to them both & many more

[MiserableFailure]

23. A man of the people!

I'm not a huge Edwards fan but at least he doesn't have a problem showing that he likes food like that and that he's still a down-home kinda guy, despite his success. Bush may wear the cowboy boots but you'd never see him going to Wendy's for a dinner. If he did the press would have covered it.

[flpoljunkie]

24. Some photos of the event for John and Elizabeth Edwards' fans...

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards holds the hand of his wife Elizabeth during dinner in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Monday, July 30. 2007. The Edwards were celebrating their 30th anniversary with the tradition of dinner at Wendy's. (AP Photo/Sara D. Davis)

[DeepModem Mom]

25. Terrific photos! Thank you! nt

[mnhtnbb]

26. Looks like they had the place to themselves. It's right down the street

from my son's music lessons and we often stop by!