Standing on home plate and dressed in pin-striped Chicago Cubs baseball jerseys, Doug Oliver and Amy Brower were just seconds away from officially becoming married Saturday afternoon. The ceremonial vows were spoken in the fifth inning, the rings were exchanged in the sixth inning, and all that was left was that ninth inning declaration of marriage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the newly united couple. Mr. Doug and Amy Oliver," said wedding officiant Shane Thirtyacre, who was dressed in a black umpire’s uniform.

About 150 wedding guests dressed in casual clothes and baseball jerseys began to clap from their stadium seats in Community Field, and Miss Brower officially became Mrs. Oliver.

It certainly wasn’t a normal wedding, but that was the whole point. Instead of sticking with standard tradition of a tuxedo and a wedding dress, Doug and Amy decided to incorporate their love of the Cubs and the Burlington Bees into their wedding.

"I was joking with someone at work, and she asked about the kind of dress I was going to wear. I said, ‘I’m not getting married in a dress. I’m getting married in a Cubs jersey,tiffany earrings,’" Amy said.

It was a joke at the time, but the more Amy thought about the idea, the better she liked it. There have been weddings at Community Field before, but never one as large as Amy’s.

"We had set the date before we booked it, and it just happened that the Bees were out of town until next week," she said.

Nearly everything at the wedding was fitted with a baseball theme. Doug and Amy’s 4-year-old son Braeden brought out the wedding ring on a baseball glove. Amy’s bouquet was painted white with red stripes. Even the wedding party exited from the home and visiting dugouts, wearing solid blue Cubs jerseys used exclusively for home games.

"My friend who was planning the wedding was kind of taken aback by the idea at first, but then she started to get into it," Amy said.

Amy’s brother-in-law Nick Simpson handed out programs and bubbles from a hotdog tray strapped around his neck, and even the wedding vows were sprinkled with a bit of baseball lingo.

"I Doug, take you to be my wife. To love you, even when you throw me curve balls. To respect you when we strike out. To support you if foul balls come our way," Doug said as he repeated the vows.

The final touch was the wedding cake, designed as an exact replica of Wrigley Field. Amy said her passion for the Cubs came from her grandmother, but her father walked her to home plate dressed in a red St. Louis Cardinals jersey.

"My parents are both Cardinals fans, and my grandmother is a big Cubs fan, so I rebelled against my parents," she said with a laugh.

Ironically enough, their love of baseball is one of the few things Amy and Doug have in common.

"We differ on just about everything. Food. Movies. Disciplining our children,tiffany rings," Amy said.

It’s a classic case of love Paula Abdul described best in her 1980s pop hit "Opposites Attract." Amy prefers romantic comedies. Doug likes science fiction movies and video games like the "Final Fantasy" series.

"He likes the role-playing-games, and they drive me nuts,tiffany bracelets," Amy said.

But their common passion for the Cubs didn’t come up when they first locked eyes 13 years ago. They both worked for the Catfish Bend Riverboat Casino that trolled the Mississippi River between Burlington and Fort Madison, and were a little hesitant to talk to each other.

"I thought he was cute, but I didn’t figure he would be interested. He was the flirty type, and he flirted with everyone on the boat," Amy said.

"Yes, I did,tiffany pendants," Doug said.

The two lovebirds were introduced through their mutual friend Angel Becerra, who died in a car crash shortly after that. Amy has always believed it was fate in the form of her friend Angel that brought her to Doug.

Considering the haircut Doug had at the time, he was happy Amy gave him a chance.

"I had a mullet when we first met, and she thought I was a country hick. I hate country music. I listen to heavy metal," Doug said.

Their first date 13 years ago took place at some random party in the middle of a field they can no longer remember. But they do remember staying up and talking until 3:30 a.m., slowly getting to know each other while simultaneously falling in love.

"I had to be at work at eight in the morning," Amy said with a laugh.

Their years together produced everything a newly married couple could want — two beautiful children, their very own home and an engagement ring Doug gave to Amy six years ago.

Until Saturday, the only thing missing was the wedding ring.

"We always do everything backwards," Doug said.

After a short family vacation, the Olivers will return to their home in Mediapolis to continue their normal lives. But when you have two children like 7-year-old Alaina and 4-year-old Braeden, normal life is pretty swell.

"Doug is a wonderful father, and he has everything I could ask for. He’s just my best friend," Amy said.