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The Dress, The Vows, The Vinoy: Crist's Wedding All Set

Photo from the Governor's Press Office

Governor Charlie Crist and Carole Rome will exchange vows at United Methodist Church in St. Pete.

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

Updated: 11/12/2008 02:22 pm

TALLAHASSEE - T-minus 29 days and counting.

Florida's social event of the year hits the Tampa Bay area the evening of Dec. 12, when Gov. Charlie Crist ties the knot with fiancée Carole Rome in St. Petersburg.

How's the bride feeling during these final weeks of wedding planning under the public microscope?

"I have never been happier in my life," she told The Tampa Tribune this week. "I have been so blessed to have finally found the man of my dreams. I am so in love with Charlie Crist, I cannot express how blessed I feel."

There remain a few particulars to sort out, said Rome, of Miami, "but for the most part, it's all set."

Among the details:

Where: First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where Crist is a member

Guests: around 200

Vows: "traditional"

Wedding dress: "It's beautiful," said the bride-to-be, who picked it out during a recent trip to New York City. Rome was circumspect on the details but said, "I'm just over the moon, I'm so happy with it. It's very traditional."

Attendants: Rome's sister, Michele Oumano Powell, will be maid of honor. Skylar and Jessica, Rome's 10- and 12-year-old daughters from her previous marriage, will be junior bridesmaids. Crist's father, physician Charles Crist Sr. of St. Petersburg, will be best man; his sisters and their husbands will be bridesmaids and groomsmen. Rome, whose father passed away in 2000, said she has not yet decided whether anyone will give her away at the altar. Procession details are likewise still in the works.

Reception: the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. Dancing? Maybe. Initial plans for an additional reception in Tallahassee have been scrapped.

Honeymoon: somewhere in southwest Florida; exact location remains under wraps

As governor, Crist has tended to lead more on the fundamentals than details of policy, leaving the latter to lawmakers to hash out. Not so, apparently, as bridegroom.

"The governor has been nice enough to participate and be part of the process," Rome said. "He was extremely active, for which I was really, really grateful – I was just so grateful; it's our special day, so it should be our shared vision."

The youngest of five children, Rome grew up in the Manhattan suburbs and attended Georgetown University as a business major. She took over her family's century-old Halloween costume business, Franco American Novelty Company, in 2000 after her father's death. Her sister Michele runs the business now, but Rome continues to act as consultant.

Crist, 52, announced on July 3 his engagement to Rome, who turned 39 last month. The governor presented Rome with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring when he proposed; the couple had been dating for nine months. Rome's divorce from Todd Rome, president of Blue Star Jets charter service, became final prior to the engagement this year. Her ex-husband has publicly wished the couple well.

Carole Rome said the couple will take only a few days of honeymoon. Given the governor's obligations in Tallahassee, she said, "I think we're going to keep it fairly short."

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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