‘The fairy tale wedding’: Manitoba couple gets married on the midway at the Red River Ex

A Manitoba couple recently tied the knot at one of the province's longest-running fairs and exhibitions.

When you head to the Red River Ex, there is plenty to take in on the midway—rides, games, and a variety of food to indulge in. However, if you were there this past weekend, you also got to enjoy a wedding.

On June 13, Justin Moore and Ashley Hutchison tied the knot in front of family and friends as well as hundreds of Red River Ex attendees, right in the middle of the midway in front of the Ferris wheel.

“It was like out of a movie,” said Moore.

“The fairy tale wedding,” said Hutchison.

The Ex was a dream wedding location for the Brandon couple, as their first date 13 years ago was at The Ex. Their first picture together is the two of them getting strapped into the slingshot.

“I was working on a big job in Winnipeg, and me and Ashley were talking online. One of my coworkers was dating a girl from Winnipeg, and it just so happened that it was Ashley’s sister. So the Red River Ex was in town, they hadn’t seen each other in a while, and we thought, ‘Why doesn’t Ashley come out to Winnipeg for the weekend and we could go on our first date?’” said Moore.

Fast forward 13 years; the two stumbled upon a contest being held at the Red River Ex called “Marriage on the Midway.”

The contest was being put on to celebrate The Ex’s 75th anniversary and promote the new wedding venue called “The Gallery” that is opening in the fall.

Moore decided to apply and eventually was selected.

“I was kind of taken back for a moment there and then instantly went to, ‘Oh my god, I’m marrying my best friend at the place that started it all 13 years ago.’”

“Very exciting. Tad bit nervous and happy, very happy,” said Hutchison.

A spokesperson for The Ex said there were over 100 entries for the contest.

Moore and Hutchison said The Ex took care of everything from catering and floral arrangements to photographers and the officiant.

The wedding featured a horse-drawn carriage ride, ride passes for 30 people, a helicopter tour of the grounds, and a confetti bomb that went off during the ceremony.

While Moore and Hutchison had 55 people attend the wedding, they said so many more ended up being part of the big day.

“What was incredible is everybody there was just there to enjoy the fair. They stopped and they started circling around and watching and participating in the whole ceremony. The people of Winnipeg were absolutely amazing at the fair and treated us so great throughout the whole day,” said Moore.

“So many more congratulations and photos with people we didn’t know,” said Hutchison.

Even though the wedding day has come and gone and normal life has resumed for the pair, they said there are plans already in the works to have The Ex included in their anniversary festivities.

“We were already talking with some of the wedding party that we should be back next year,” said Hutchison.

“Mr. and Mrs. Midway have to go back for our first anniversary,” laughed Moore.