Managing Editor Kelly Kazek

I have never been so proud of my roots, and I don’t mean the dark stripe on top of my head.

Today, I can stand tall and announce I grew up in Warner Robins, Ga., home of championship football and Little League teams, a top-notch air force base, and a couple who recently celebrated their nuptials by jumping into a mud pit.

Hey, I’m not judging.

I myself am no stranger to mud pits. We have our very own annual Mud Volleyball Tournament right here in Athens, Ala., and I once was a member of the Dirty Dozen.

I am also no stranger to unusual — some might say redneck — wedding rituals. I once threw instant grits at my uncle and his bride when his wedding was held at our home. Well. We were out of rice.

But I can’t top the wedding of Rawni and Rob “Robo” Sprague, who were married July 5 at the annual Redneck Summer Games in Dublin, Ga.

Reporter Ashley Tusan Joyner writes in the Macon Telegraph that the reunited childhood sweethearts went all out on a fancy wedding, which was filmed for an upcoming episode of CMT’s “My Big Fat Redneck Wedding.”

Rawni and Robo, which I assume is pronounced “Robbo” and not “Robo” as in RoboCop, became engaged during a race at the Talladega Motor Speedway in October.

That auspicious beginning led Rawni to carefully plan a ceremony that is sure to become the stuff of legend among her children and grandchildren. No detail was left undone:

Confederate flag bikini top under gown? $10.99.

Confederate flag garter belt? $3.99 with coupon.

Confederate flag-decorated acrylic nails? $4.99 plus custom painting.

Bottle-cap earrings? Cost of two beers.

Jack Daniels bottle to hold the bouquet? Priceless.

I’m glad I wasn’t there to see the couple’s first dance to “Hold My Beer.” I don’t think I could have held back the tears.

The article doesn’t say if the couple jumped in the mud before or after the first dance, but in my mind, I like to picture Robo lovingly wiping mud from Rawni’s belly-button ring during the dance.

“He was always the one,” Rawni is quoted in the story.

Awww.

Now I’m really gonna cry.

Really, I have Jeff Foxworthy to thank for my moment of pride.

It was Jeff who made redneck cool, who made porch sofas and year-round Christmas lights fashionable.

It was Jeff whose creative genius gave the world “You might be a redneck” Christmas balls, the Redneck Dictionary, and the pregnant bride figurine.

Without him, would the people of Dublin have felt secure enough to throw a party featuring Bobbin’ for Pigs Feet, Armpit Serenades and a Miss Redneck competition?

Would Rawni’s bridesmaids have felt free to wear their Daisy Dukes and gingham crop tops?

No. They would have been shamed into taffeta horrors the color of orange sherbet, spreading suffering throughout the land.

So, Jeff, I raise my bottle to you.

After that, I’ll raise another one.

What good is one bottle-cap earring?



Got a great redneck tradition to share? You can reach Kelly Kazek at kelly@athensnews-courier.com and if she’s not sunning in a tube top in a lawn chair settin’ in the baby pool, she’ll get back to you.