Burger-King Wedding a Match Made in Franchise Heaven

As someone who has a verb for a last name, I’m well aware of the seemingly endless pun possibilities an unfortunate moniker can provide. But I’d say the future Burger-Kings of New Berlin, Ill. have me beat as far as wisecrack potential goes.

The pending nuptials of Joel Burger and Ashley King have become a dream come true for tired joke makers the world over, but since I’m a tired joke maker embedded in the franchising industry, this is just too good to pass up. And apparently the couple agrees with me.

The lovebirds posed in front of a Burger King logo outside a local franchise location for their engagement photo, according to The State-Journal Register. They also decided to send tradition packing and put Joel’s surname first in their announcement. The King-Burger wedding still sounds pretty awesome, but it’s just not the same.

Joel and Ashley were far from the first people to realize what their love could mean on a last name basis – they were classmates from kindergarten through high school, after all, and children are nothing if not expert at figuring out a way to torture other kids with nicknames.

However, their surnames are good for more than just lazy headlines describing what a “whopper” of a wedding this will be. It’s also good for some sweet, sweet cash. After the story of Joel and Ashley went viral, the couple’s corporate namesake took action.

"When we heard about the happy Burger-King couple, we felt an overwhelming urge to celebrate their upcoming marriage," Burger King spokesman Eric Hirschhorn said.

Burger King has announced it will pay for the nuptials of Burger-King, as well as provide gifts for the wedding. Needless to say, the couple is thrilled.

"We were shaking," Ashley told The State-Journal Register in an update to the original story.

Whether the money is coming from the bottom of Burger King’s corporate heart or the company is merely savvy enough to realize what great publicity this all is, who cares? Those crazy kids get a free wedding and Burger King benefits from some priceless viral marketing. All is right with the world.