XENIA — Sandra Johnson didn’t have to drop thousands of dollars on a venue for her wedding Saturday. Instead, she selected a place that would carry meaning to her and her now-husband.
“This is where I met him, this is where I fell in love with him and this is where I wanted to marry him,” said Johnson. “Everyone thought I was silly for wanting to do it here, but it’s just me.”
She married Brad Osborne at Kroger, which is where the couple first met about five years ago while they were on the clock. Johnson has spent the last 19 years working at the grocery store, while Osborne is in the midst of a 37-year career as a Pepsi merchandiser. They started dating about a year ago.
Family members surrounded them, either witnessing the union or standing beside the couple during the ceremony. When “Here Comes the Bride” played over the loudspeakers, all attendees arose from their seats as Johnson nervously made her way down the aisle that was created between the lunchmeat and frozen food sections, still including enough room for Kroger shoppers to slip by the ceremony.
“This is a big deal for them and we wanted to make it happen,” Kroger manager Chris Ferguson said. “Congratulations [to them] and best of wishes.”
They’ll be heading to Florida in June for their honeymoon.
“I love him so much,” Johnson said. “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me besides having my kids and grandkids.”