Having your favorite Philadelphia mascot make an appearance at your wedding adds a unique touch that guests will talk about for years to come, writes Bradford Pearson for the Philadelphia Magazine. 

Stephanie Powers decided to surprise her then-fiance, Rory Magargee, an obsessive St. Joe’s fan, by having the ever-flapping mascot, the Hawk, show up during the reception. Magargee was so excited about it that he paused proceedings and invited every St. Joe’s alum for a group photo. 

Meanwhile, Nicolette LaRosa and Dean Balis connected while undergrads at Drexel, and both wanted to see Mario the Magnificent dragon among the guests. 

“We spent so much time at Drexel, and we only met because we both went there,” said LaRosa 

To get their favorite mascots to show up at their weddings, both women coordinated the appearances through the university athletic departments. The process can be different for each school and team. Usually, there is an online form to fill out to make the request. The appearance depends on the team’s schedule. 

Fees vary between teams. For example, Hooter the Owl, Temple’s mascot, charges $200 for a half-hour wedding appearance. Gritty, however, costs in the thousands–if you can land the Flyers mascot. 

Read more about Philadelphia mascots coming to weddings in the Philadelphia Magazine. 

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