Married by midnight
SHOW Bible
THE AVERAGE WEDDING TAKES 12 MONTHS TO PLAN… THESE COUPLES HAVE ONLY 12 HOURS. One of s e.com’ Deadlin ational ern “Ten Int h to Watc s t a m r o F 18” for in 20
Overview In this unpredictable and powerful SURPRISE WEDDING format, we’re giving deserving couples the gift of a lifetime: get married and more – FOR FREE! But there’s a catch – they have only twelve hours and $75,000 to get it done! For their own unique reasons (financial hardship, personal struggle, cold feet, etc.), these couples have put off holy matrimony… Now, we’re giving them the nudge they need and helping them throw the most EPIC SURPRISE WEDDING in just twelve hours. Either the bride or groom can propose. If their partner says yes, then the race is on! They’ll have to invite guests, choose the location, the décor, the food, the cake, the dress, and even throw bachelor/ette parties before walking down the aisle BY MIDNIGHT. With each decision (ring, cake, catering, etc.), they’ll always have THREE OPTIONS to choose from at different price points and styles. But differing opinions and agendas on top of the ticking clock make planning this wedding even more difficult. If the couple can make it to the altar before the clock strikes twelve, they'll walk away with an unbelievable wedding gift that’s chosen specifically for them (from a honeymoon to a home renovation)! But, they better hurry up if they’re going to get…
Married by midnight
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Episode Breakdown Each episode of Married by Midnight will feel like a loosely formatted docu-series that is fast-paced and uplifting. We’ll show all the stressful steps of planning a whirlwind wedding, as we take the audience on a new and exciting journey every week. Our couple will share their incredible story of why they deserve their dream wedding, as they plan to tie the knot in only 12 hours. They’ll have to make tough decisions along the way, and the audience will play along and obsess over every selection they make. Gorgeous wedding beauty shots of rings, flowers, food, and dresses help to accentuate the scene and tell the story. This all leads to an extravagant wedding custommade for the couple and unlike any other.
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Cold Open & Backstory Cold Open & Main Title Sequence
We begin with a slick cold open that lays out the concept and format with the best moments from the season, ending with a bold, main title graphic.
How They Met
As our host travels to meet this week’s couple, he or she introduces a dynamic self-shot backstory package about how they met and fell in love, and the challenges they’ve overcome together. This has the look and feel of a Facebook or Instagram story with plenty of pictures and videos from the couple’s past. The key to this segment is getting the audience to truly fall in love with this couple the same way they fell for each other!
The Ambush Our host will ambush the unsuspecting groom in a real life setting, i.e. at home or at work. He thinks he is being interviewed for a series about unmarried couples… but instead, our host reveals that we’re giving him and his girlfriend the opportunity of a lifetime! We’re going to throw them a wedding for free - the ring, the ceremony, the reception – everything! But there’s a catch… The groom and bride-to-be have to get engaged AND married TODAY in 12 HOURS with only 75K to spend! As soon as the shocked groom agrees, the clock starts counting down! Meanwhile, we’ll intercut with his unsuspecting other half during her daily routine. *In many cases it will be the groom being ambushed but we’ll tailor who pops the question to the couple and their story so that it can also be the bride.
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The Proposal Choosing the Ring
To start things off, the groom heads to a jewelry store to select the all-important engagement ring. But even though he only has 3 choices, shopping for the ring is guaranteed to make him feel completely clueless. Does his bride-to-be want classic or vintage, emerald or oval? And what about color or carats? We’ll learn all about his girlfriend, his excitement and fear as he embraces their upcoming engagement.
Planning the Proposal
The average proposal takes 4 months to plan. But our groom only has about four minutes to come up with a creative and meaningful proposal! What’s the best place to propose and what will he say to get a “yes”? If the couple values experiences, he may propose outdoors at a scenic location... If his significant other is sentimental, he may take her back to the first place they kissed. Whatever he chooses, he better do it quickly. Intercutting between the couple continues, building up to the big moment.
Will You Marry Me?
Plagued with nerves, our groom will surprise his girlfriend and pop the question in an unforgettable and dramatic way. Once she says, “Yes!” we’ll let the heartfelt moment breathe. Then, our host will step in and reveal to the newly-engaged bride, that this engagement is only the beginning of her big day…
Are You In or Are You Out?
Our host reveals to the bride that we’re giving her and her fiancé $75,000 for their DREAM wedding…with a twist. They have to plan the wedding and make it down the aisle by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. The groom has already agreed… it’s up to the bride to bite the bullet. Overwhelmed and elated, the bride gets on board (though she’s none too thrilled her groom took so long to choose the ring and propose). So, now it’s time to get moving! The host sends them quickly to their first destination – meeting with the wedding planner.
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The Plan Meet the Wedding Planner
To bring our couple’s dream wedding to life, we’re bringing in the best wedding planners in the business. These event planners are more accustomed to elaborate 7-figure soirees with months of planning, not surprise nuptials with $75,000 to spend… So, this will be a big challenge for them as well.
The Checklist
The planner and host go over everything that needs to get done on this tight timeline, helping the couple prioritize where they want to save and splurge. With each item, they’ll be given three options to choose from at different prices and styles. Every choice plays into story and tells us what’s important to each individual. It also creates diversity and conflict in each episode, as no two couples think alike. Ultimately, the host will hand the checklist over and the bride and groom will take control of the planning. But, with so many options and not a lot of time or money – they’ll have to find a way to compromise on some big emotional decisions.
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The Decisions The Guests Wedding Party
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Choosing a guest list and a wedding party can be stressful even when you have months to plan… Imagine doing it in minutes! As the couple hurries to see venues, they start FaceTiming with their friends and family to announce their engagement and invite them to their wedding later that day. With no advance notice this could be a challenge. Lots of couples have to compromise when it comes to picking their wedding party. If people are left out, it may ruffle feathers with their family and friends. Do all of her best friends need to be in the bridal party? Does she get along with any of his old college buddies? Should they include their fiancé's families? As our couple invites their guests and selects their wedding party. We’ll set up
storylines through specific people, i.e. the parents, who’ve never met the bride, the ailing grandfather, or the mom, who may not make it in time for her son’s wedding ceremony.
The Venue
There is a lot to think about when selecting a space. The venue sets the mood for the entire wedding, so our couple must answer some key questions to find the site that suits their style: Informal of formal? Classic or modern? Romantic or rustic? Indoors or outdoors? At an average of $16K each, our couple wants to impress their guests but they also don’t want to blow their budget. Which venue is the right fit for them?
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The Decisions Cont. The Décor
To make their wedding an unforgettable fete, the bride and groom will need to pick décor that allows their unique passions, personalities and quirks to shine through. Whether it’s navy and nautical, modern simplicity or an eclectic collection, what option best suits them? And will they be able to compromise when the bride is leaning in one direction while the groom wants another?
The Catering
Up next, the couple must map out their wedding menu. Do they fancy a formal, sit down dinner with multiple courses or would they prefer a more interactive option, like specialty food stands that feature cutting edge fare (like a raw bar with a waiter shucking oysters or a wine and cheese pairing with an on-site sommelier). Do they want to serve a mashup menu inspired by memorable moments in their relationship or would they prefer to curate their menu with the local cuisine of their culture? No matter which option they choose, the catering will take a significant bite out of their budget.
The Cake
Finally, a delectable decision: sampling slice after slice of cake. Will the couple pick a cake that matches the aesthetics of the occasion in terms of the venue and decor? Or will they embrace the unconventional and opt for a pop-up patisserie, a self serve sundae bar or tableside toasted s’mores? Who wins when the bride is a foodie while the groom wants a Star Wars-inspired cake?
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The Decisions Cont. Wedding Bands
This is one of the few pieces — if not the only piece — of jewelry they’ll shop for together and wear for the rest of their lives. Will they choose gold or platinum OR will our couple make a quick dash into a tattoo parlor to make their commitment more permanent?
Optional Decisions/Add Ons
After picking the wedding essentials, our couple can choose from a slew of trendy or romantic add-ons that will turn this wedding up to 11. Think: ! A photo booth ! A hanging garden ! A horse drawn carriage entrance ! A show-stopping exit like sparklers, a parade or rose petal cannons ! Dance lessons ! A first dance balloon drop ! A bubby bar or custom cocktail bar ! A cover band ! Matching bridesmaids dresses
The Wedding Prep & The Bachelor Party Plans – B STORY
In between each decision, we’ll cut to the chaos of the best man and maid of honor planning the bachelor/ette parties and the flurried activity of the ceremony preparation, including the flowers, the mouthwatering menu and the transformation of their venue into their dream wedding space.
The Wedding Wish – C STORY
Amidst the insanity, our host will briefly step away to meet with a close friend or family member who will reveal more about the couple and set up the FINAL SURPRISE GIFT (which they’ll receive at the reception). These confidantes will share the couple’s needs and their wishes for the newlyweds. Whether it’s a free honeymoon, a bedroom or kitchen makeover, debt paid off, a nursery, or scholarships for their kids, the gift will be suited specifically to their story to give them a leg up on life after their wedding.
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The Final Hours As we near the finish line, our bride and groom say their goodbyes and then go their separate ways for their final hours of “freedom.”
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
These timeless rituals usually take weeks, if not months to plan and, these days, they can occupy an entire weekend. But, today, the best man and maid of honor have only a couple of hours to throw #LastHoorah celebrations that will last mere minutes. What will their friends come up? We’ll intercut between each party to see how they’re celebrating “the end.”
The Dress & Tux
The bride has been worrying all day about finding THE dress – and the moment is here at last! The bride will bring along family or friends, as this is not only her first but final fitting. Does she know what she wants down to the last detail? Or is she undecided? Will she go with princess, mermaid, strapless or sweetheart? As she tries on each of her options, she’s looking for that teary-eyed confirmation that she’s found the gown she’ll walk down the aisle in – that moment when she just KNOWS. But does she have enough money left to buy her dream dress…or will she have to settle for less? *With every other decision, the audience gets immediate payoff, but we’ll save the ultimate reveal of the dress for that epic moment when the bride walks down the aisle. Meanwhile, left to his own devices, her fiancé won’t be able to consider the style of her dress when he makes his selection. Will he go with a three-piece suit, a tux, or something less traditional? It’s all fair game!
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The Race to the Altar Hair & Makeup
From strobing and contouring to glossy lids and smoky eyes, when it comes to wedding day makeup, the possibilities are endless. But while it typically takes 2-3 hours to complete a bride’s hair and makeup, our stunner only has an hour to lock down a look she will love. This is where the enormity of the moment will really start to sink in for the bride. We’ll get authentic story and emotion here, as she tells the room how she’s feeling. Is she anxious? Excited? Any cold feet? The whole day has passed in a blur and emotions are running high. As the clock races towards midnight, our beauty team makes sure not a hair is out of place and her make up is perfection – and waterproof!
Prep Chaos – B STORY
Meanwhile, the wedding planner and their team hustle to get the venue and décor ready to go. Slick time-lapses will help add to the intensity of the moment.
The Wedding Vows
Our couple will write their own vows that reflect how they feel about each other and their relationship. How hard will it be to put pen to paper and what promises will they make to their partner? This provides the bride and groom the opportunity to add another layer to their love story.
Ticking Clock – B STORY RESOLVE
As time ticks closer to the end of the evening, our wedding planners are scrambling to pull off the seemingly impossible, while the guests and groom arrive. 10
The Wedding The Ceremony
Time is almost up! Tension builds among the guests, the groom anxiously awaits at the altar and when the bride walks down the aisle, she takes everyone’s breath away! Tears will flow, as the two read their vows, exchange rings, and share their first kiss as husband and wife. It’s been a whirlwind day and this fairytale ending makes it all worth it.
The Reception, The Wedding Wish (C STORY RESOLVE) & Happily Ever After
With the spur of the moment ceremony officially over, it’s time to eat, drink, and dance. The wedding planners have pulled off an unbelievable affair that has left our couple feeling as though the party was truly made for them. Friends and family gather as they cut the cake and romantically sway through their first dance. But we have one more surprise: Our host reveals that a loved one told them of a need or struggle they have…and now, to ensure that their happily ever after starts on a firm foundation, we are gifting them with something specially suited to their story. Now, married to the love of their lives, we’ll leave our couple for their first night as newlyweds.
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The Couples Our couples think we are casting them as part of a documentary series about people who are considering marriage, but, for one reason or another, they have yet to set a date or make the big commitment. This premise allows us to get the backstory of their relationship and an inside look at what a dream wedding would be for them without blowing the surprise of the “real experience” that will be unfolding. Examples of types of couples are: o o o o o o o o o
Couples with kids who haven’t had the time to get married. Couples who think they must have a simple wedding because it is their second trip to the altar. Couples who are saddled with student loans and planned to elope to cut costs. Couples who have been dating for years but haven’t sealed the deal. On again off again couples who have taken time apart but are now back together and stronger than ever before. Couples who inspire those around them with their selflessness and generosity, such as: mentors, teachers, coaches, firemen, police officers, doctors or nurses. Couples who recently found out they’re pregnant and want to get married before the baby is born. Couples who have overcome injury or illness and being able to walk down the aisle is something they thought might never happen. Couples who wanted to lose massive amounts of weight before their wedding. Military couples who are preparing to experience long-distance challenges.
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Style Guide Married By Midnight will have a seamless cinematic documentary style with a “follow, not lead” look. We want to make this feel as organic as possible by shooting the action as it’s happening. There are no retakes. Additionally, we’ll dish up epic reveals and stunning “wedding porn” by stylistically highlighting all the great rings, food, dresses, shoes, cakes, venues, décor, etc. We will film with the Arri Amira camera to achieve the most cinematic look possible. Five teams of two cameras will leap frog throughout the day to cover the couple’s every move. During the ambush, proposal, and planning, we will be handheld so that the action feels immersive and in the moment. Operators will step back from the scene when possible to give the couple space, allowing for maximum emotion in the moment. Then, during the ceremony and reception, we’ll switch up to a glossy film style and use steadicams, a jib and a dana dolly to show off the scope, scale and beauty of the epic event. Lastly, reveals are a big part of this show and we will make each one HUGE, both visually and emotionally. This includes the dress choice, the bride coming down the aisle, and the couple announced as man and wife for the first time.
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Background Packages
We will introduce the couple via a story-based package entirely shot by the couples and their friends and family. In the same vein as Kylie Jenner’s “To Our Daughter” video, this is an honest and intimate portrait of the couple, their journey, their engagement expectations, and why they feel they are meant to be married to each other.
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Aerials & Exteriors
The day before the wedding, we will film cinematic drone shots of our locations, as well as slider shots all over the city.
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The Three Choices (Wedding Beauties)
The day before the wedding, where possible, we will film all of our stylized “wedding porn,” including the rings, catering, cakes, venues, décor, dresses, and suits. Each option will be the definition of eye candy – presented in ways that are unexpected, Pinteresty and GORG! This includes steadi-cam POV shots so the audience can see what the couple sees at all times and they can experience the same insanity and excitement.
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The Ceremony & Reception
Here’s where we switch up the style of the show and go to a very glossy, sexy, elegant, epic feel, showing off the dream wedding. We’ll use a jib camera to show off the scope of the location as well as a slider or 6-foot dana dolly to connect the crowd to the couple. We will get amazing steadi-cam shots of the bride coming down the aisle and the reaction from her groom. Then, with a long lens, we’ll capture the tight, intimate moments – the couple reading their personal vows and tears from loved ones. At the reception, we’ll get that fairy-tale first dance with a steadi-cam and make sure to get reactions from their guests, who are on a rollercoaster of emotions as well.
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Car Coverage
Instead of using traditional Go Pro cameras in the car, we will use Canon 5Ds to give the footage a sharper, more cinematic look. A camera will be mounted on the hood and a cameraman will be shooting from the backseat over the shoulder as well. As the pacing of the show is important, the car scenes will feel kinetic and make the show MOVE. The host will NOT be with the couple in the car so that the pair can be raw and react to their differing opinions and emotions. Aerials, action and POV shots of the automobile will be shot the day before the wedding day.
Interviews
These stylish interviews will always look and sound in the moment. The couple will be shot together with a 2-camera setup in a wide 2-shot and an iso either on the talker or the partner, who is giving a great reaction. The interview will have soft, elegant lighting that appears natural. The couple will look into camera and the background will fall off with a shallow depth of field. Story will happen in scene and we’ll use the interviews to elevate and elaborate on what’s happening. These will be platforms on which to showcase the great characters and their chemistry.
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Potential Hosts The host is part traffic cop and part comedian. While managing time and pushing the couple along are key components, the host’s most important role is to encourage the bride and groom to share their love story so that the audience will connect deeply with the couple.
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Potential Hosts Kristen Bell & Dax Sheppard
One of Hollywood’s cutest couples, the pair decided not to tie the knot until same sex marriage was legal in California. They wed in 2013 in a low-key, casual ceremony at a Beverly Hills courthouse that cost the couple $142 (including the gas to get there). Instead of wearing a wedding ring, Dax has a bell tattooed on his ring finger.
Chrissy Teigen & John Legend
The supermodel and Lip Sync Battle co-host met the Grammy-winning artist on the set of Legend’s music video Stereo and the two began dating in earnest. They tied the knot twice in 2013 - once in a NYC courthouse and again in a lavish Lake Como ceremony. The two have a daughter and are expecting a baby boy.
Tituss Burgess
Best known for his emmy-nominated performance as Titus Andromedon on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Burgess has had an extensive career both on stage and on camera. Described as “walking, talking glitter,” his stage presence and comedic skills make him a spectacle wherever he goes.
Amy Schumer
One of the gutsiest comedians, Schumer is best known for creating the hit show Inside Amy Schumer and the 2015 movie Trainwreck. The star is a selfprofessed "huge fan" of The Bachelor and even made a guest appearance, infamously calling one of the contestants "a turd.” After only dating for a few months, she and her chef boyfriend recently married in a secret Malibu wedding surprising friends, family and all of Hollywood!
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Potential Hosts James Corden
Tony Award-winner, actor and host of CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden, this British triple threat is redefining television and blowing up the internet with his cultural phenomenon Carpool Karaoke.
John Stamos
After proposing at Disneyland with a compilation tape of the most romantic Disney movies moments, Stamos and his fiancé tied the knot in early February. Adored for playing a loveable bachelor thrown into fatherhood, John Stamos is finally preparing to become a father for real as he and his wife prepare to welcome their first child.
Ali Fedotwosky
Best known as the season six Bachelorette and host of NBC’s 1st Look and Entertainment Tonight, Ali recently shed her bachelorette title by marrying hubby Kevin Manno in a beachside ceremony.
Josh Gad
This Tony-nominated, Grammy-winning singer, actor, comedian and father of two is best known for his work in Frozen, Beauty and the Beast and the Book of Mormon. In 2014, Josh crashed an unsuspecting wedding party with his Wedding Ringer co-star Kevin Hart and the two serenaded the couple with a song about their future beautiful babies.
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Potential Wedding Planners Each episode, Married by Midnight will feature one of the best wedding planners in the business, who will prep, plan, and produce a perfect wedding day for these couples. Each wedding planner has orchestrated high-end events for celebrities, pro athletes, or politicians, and they all have their own signature style. Whether executing an outdoor extravaganza in California or a lux celebration in New York City, these creative geniuses will raise the bar each episode and leave the couples, their guests, and the audience raving.
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Potential Wedding Planners
Mindy Weiss
Mindy is the genius behind weddings, parties and showers for the likes of Beyonce, Ellen Degeneres & Portia Rossi, Jessica Simpson, Fergie & Josh Duhamel, La La & Carmelo Anthony, Serena Williams, Russell Wilson and Ciara, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Heidi Klum, Pink, Sofia Vagara and Joe Manganiello, Kimberly Williams & Brad Paisley, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, and Russell and Nina Westbrook just to name a few.
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Potential Wedding Planners Paige Appel & Kelly Harris
Long considered LA’s nexus of matrimonial cool, the masterminds behind one-stop event planning studio “Bash, Please” take their cues from the old, the new, the artful, the vintage, the natural, the modern, and, of course, their clients. Anything but standard, they’ve created customized experiences for the likes of Sophia Amoruso, Todd Selby & Danielle Sherman, Anna Getty & S c o t t O y s t e r, E m i l y Deschanel & David Horsnby, and Jenny Bernheim & Fred Cipoletti.
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Potential Wedding Planners
Marcy Blum
Dubbed one of the best wedding planners in the world, Marcy started dominating in her career some 30 years ago. Today, s h e h a s arranged events for everyone from LeBron James to the Rockefeller family.
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Potential Wedding Planners
Bryan Rafanelli
Owner of Rafanelli Events, Bryan Rafanelli is responsible for pulling off the gorgeous nuptials of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky in NY and has also worked with Michelle Obama on multiple White House events. Â
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Potential Wedding Planners
Yifat Oren
Oren is one in an elite class of LA event planners whose services are commissioned by the rich and famous — Anne Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Adam Levine, and Reese Witherspoon have all relied on her services. She has her finger on the pulse of what brides want and even has a line of wedding dresses.
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Potential Wedding Planners
Lady Elizabeth Anson
For the bride who truly wants to feel like a princess on her big day, there’s no party planner better than Lady Anson. Cousin to the Queen of England, she planned the wedding of the d e c a d e – K a t e Middleton and Prince William’s nuptials. British royalty aside, she's also worked with Tom Cruise, 28 Mick Jagger, Sting, and Valentino.
Potential Wedding Planners
Preston Bailey
Since opening his design s t u d i o i n 1 9 8 0 , P r e s t o n Bailey has become one of the most sought-after planners not only in Tinseltown but across the globe. There is something theatrical about how he designs his events — lush floral arrangements, dramatic lighting. His client list includes Oprah and Katherine Zeta Jones among others.
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Potential Wedding Planners
Sharon Sacks
Kim's love story with Kris Humphries may have ended after only 72 days, but we still remember how gorgeous her $10 million dollar wedding was, and Los Angeles-based planner Sharon Sacks was the person behind it. In fact, Kardashian also called Sacks when it was time for her and Kanye to tie the knot in Europe.
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