Tailgate wedding kicks it up a notch

AUSTIN (KXAN) - With a Texas Longhorn tailgate party cast as their cathedral, and Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in the role of reception hall, Paul and Heather Escobedo said their wedding vows, Saturday.

Hours before Texas kicked off its first home football game of the season, the Escobedos walked down the aisle and lit the unity candle in a ceremony that featured traditional touches but was anything but conventional.

Friends screamed as the couple was pronounced man and wife, then shared a big kiss.

Paul says they planned to get married later but because he'll be deploying to Iraq soon, he and Heather changed their minds and decided to move up the wedding.

"It's tough," said Heather. "But I was in the military so I know how it is."

"I just married the man of my dreams."

Paul said they're both big football fans and a friend talked them into having the ceremony at his regular tailgate spot.

"She was a Georgia Bulldog fan but now she's a Longhorn fan," Paul laughed shortly after becoming a married man.

"It's the best wedding that I could possibly have," Heather said, "What better place than a University of Texas game to get married?"