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Stephen Colbert Gives Couple Dream Wedding After Government Shutdown Ruins Plans (VIDEO)

Stephen Colbert Gives Couple Dream Wedding
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Ordained minister and talk show host Stephen Colbert took matters into his own hands on Thursday night and married a couple after their original wedding plans were ruined by the government shutdown.

Mike Cassesso and MaiLien Le planned to wed near the Jefferson Memorial until their wedding site was closed by the shutdown. As Colbert pointed out, they are one of many couples whose wedding plans were ruined.

"Well, Nation," Colbert said, after explaining the couple's story, "I promised you on night one of the shutdown that as leader of the Colbert Nation and Earl Lord of the Afterscape, I would provide all canceled government services, and that includes weddings."

Colbert then proceeded to marry the couple.

Mandy Patinkin, star of "Homeland," sang the Shehecheyanu, and Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald performed Billy Idol's "White Wedding" for the occasion during a very special "Colbert Show" segment (see above).

The government shutdown has affected many services, stopping scientific research, closing wildlife refuges and national parks, and furloughing workers.

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Funny Love Notes
Acceptance(01 of17)
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And that's all anyone could ever ask for. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayrahancock/7459308446/sizes/m/in/photostream/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="flickr " data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayrahancock/7459308446/sizes/m/in/photostream/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="27" data-vars-position-in-unit="29">flickr </a>via<a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/kayrakitten" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/kayrakitten" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="28" data-vars-position-in-unit="30"> reddit</a>.)
Fried Chicken Vs. Love(02 of17)
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Fried chicken always wins. (credit:<a href="http://imgur.com/QTe5hgg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://imgur.com/QTe5hgg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="26" data-vars-position-in-unit="28">reddit</a>)
Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder(03 of17)
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Or crazier. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/jTyQj.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/jTyQj.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="24" data-vars-position-in-unit="26">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/discojohnson" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/discojohnson" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="25" data-vars-position-in-unit="27">reddit</a>.)
Poultry Proclamation (04 of17)
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This guy didn't chicken out with his declaration of love. (credit:<a href="http://yepperoni.tumblr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Yepperoni" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://yepperoni.tumblr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="22" data-vars-position-in-unit="24">Yepperoni</a> vi <a href="http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2013/01/30/who-says-romance-is-dead-24-pics/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Pleated-Jeans" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2013/01/30/who-says-romance-is-dead-24-pics/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="23" data-vars-position-in-unit="25">Pleated-Jeans</a>)
Nokia Phones(05 of17)
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A symbol of romance and a love that lasts forever. (credit:<a href="http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2013/01/30/who-says-romance-is-dead-24-pics/#more-51910" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Pleated-Jeans" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2013/01/30/who-says-romance-is-dead-24-pics/#more-51910" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="21" data-vars-position-in-unit="23">Pleated-Jeans</a>)
A New Hope(06 of17)
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His love of Star Wars is just as strong as his love for Jessica. (credit:<a href="http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=2617" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="eatliver" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=2617" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="20" data-vars-position-in-unit="22">eatliver</a>)
Make A Moment With Mozzarella (07 of17)
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It's too cheesy. (credit:<a href="http://imgur.com/nCBvN" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://imgur.com/nCBvN" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="20">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/Unic0rnLover" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/Unic0rnLover" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="19" data-vars-position-in-unit="21">reddit</a>.)
Bagels(08 of17)
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Make every relationship better. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/GKtcA.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/GKtcA.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/smakey" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit." data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/smakey" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">reddit.</a>)
The Sweetest Scratch(09 of17)
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How could you get mad at that? (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Agx79BF.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/Agx79BF.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="14" data-vars-position-in-unit="16">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/ruvb00m" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/ruvb00m" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">reddit</a>.)
Loose Tooth Love(10 of17)
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Emma is wise beyond her years. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Oc1BwO1.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/Oc1BwO1.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/notthatjesus" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/notthatjesus" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="13" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">reddit</a>.)
Nicolas Cage(11 of17)
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The best, most romantic Valentine. (credit:<a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/toifs/youre_my_national_treasure/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/toifs/youre_my_national_treasure/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">reddit</a>)
A Backhanded Compliment(12 of17)
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Thanks? (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/PNmgV.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/PNmgV.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/Slowmash" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/Slowmash" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">reddit</a>.)
Bacon Ballad(13 of17)
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Being compared to bacon is a huge compliment. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/PoAJh7r.jpg?1" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/PoAJh7r.jpg?1" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/BuffHagen" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/BuffHagen" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">reddit</a>.)
Another Bacon Ballad(14 of17)
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The bacon may have spoiled, but their love is fresher than ever. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/vR1Ig.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/vR1Ig.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/nedtheman" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/nedtheman" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">reddit</a>.)
Light Saber Love(15 of17)
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I think they are a match made in "Star Wars" Heaven. (credit:<a href="http://i.imgur.com/XYhWa.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://i.imgur.com/XYhWa.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/divergentchasm" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/divergentchasm" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">reddit</a>.)
He Just Cares About Her Mind(16 of17)
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Or not. (credit:<a href="http://imgur.com/a/UmBH6" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Imgur" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://imgur.com/a/UmBH6" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="3">Imgur</a> via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/TheMacMan" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="reddit" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bad29b6e4b04234e8577658" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.reddit.com/user/TheMacMan" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">reddit</a>.)
The Human Centipede(17 of17)
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Turning disgusting horror into romance is no easy feat, but this card does it.
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