You Want Fries with That Wedding Cake?

"We see this as a business opportunity."

Those words could apply to almost anything, including a wedding at McDonald's.

Yep, it's happening — or it will be happening, as of January 2011, when a Hong Kong outlet of the venerable American fast food restaurant begins accepting requests for what could only be described as a McWedding.

In a situation that is an economics instructor's dream scenario, demand is driving supply. It turns out that the idea came from customer requests. So many regular consumers of Big Macs, fries, shakes, McSalads, Happy Meals (well, OK, maybe not Happy Meals) asked for the thing at the place that the owner of the place decided to provide the thing being requested.

Seems the romantic attraction of meeting, dating, and becoming engaged at McDonald's was enough to drive some customers to want to legally formalize their relationship there.

And it's not just the reception, with a menu filled with normal fare. No, it's the whole nine yards of marriage ceremony, wedding cake (the only unusual item on the menu), and reception for up to 100 people. All the happy couple (or the family of the bride) have to pay is 250 British pounds ($400). One thing that won't be on offer is champagne, since alcohol isn't allowed (not even BYO).

And, in a reminder that business is business, the restaurant manager wishes to inform prospective McWedding participants that the restaurant will remain open during the ceremony and reception and that, because it would be normal business hours, restaurant staff would be obliged to serve customers unassociated with the wedding, even if it meant that the flower girl who got a sudden craving for McDonaldLand cookies would have to stand in line.

No word yet on whether the outlet will offer any sort of honeymoon catering or other … arrangements.