A member of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) staff has been given a true Las Vegas experience and a Valentines Day to remember in a specially made Vegas-style chapel in Wigan.
Sharon Jukes, an Access to Health Records Officer, will head out to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in two weeks to officially tie the knot with fiancée, John Synnott, ahead of the first ever Betfred Super League game taking place on US soil, when Wigan Warriors take on Warrington Wolves.
Legendary “Mr. Las Vegas” and famous ring announcer, Michael Buffer, welcomed the happy couple to the ‘Las Wigan Chapel’ before the ceremony was officiated by a fully ordained celebrant in front of friends, family and an array of famous rugby league faces.
Sharon, who has worked for the Trust for 17 years, said: “We talked about getting married in Las Vegas and when we learned that Wigan Warriors would be playing over there, it seemed like a no-brainer. We didn’t want a massive family wedding, just something for us.
“It all stemmed from a Facebook post in a Wigan Warriors Las Vegas group where an appeal was put out for any couples due to get married this year. I put my hand up not realising how big this was, and it turns out we ticked all the boxes because we’re Wigan Warriors fans and getting married in Vegas, and it has just snowballed from there – all of a sudden we’re on a video call with Sky Sports!”
The rehearsal wedding on Friday 14th February was attended by rugby royalty such as Brian Carney, Warrington Wolves Head Coach, Sam Burgess and Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves mascots, Mighty Max and Wolfy.
Sharon said: “When I mentioned it all to John, I didn’t think he’d want to get involved as he’s quite shy but then he said, why not, let’s go for it!”
Sharon and John, from Winstanley in Wigan, will fly out to Las Vegas to officially tie the knot on February 28th with their 17-year-old son, Owen, 19-year-old daughter, Katie and Sharon’s dad, Tony.
Wigan Warriors will face Warrington Wolves when they make history in Las Vegas, as the two rivals become the first teams to play a Super League fixture in the United States on March 1st.