Biggest Loser’s Erica Lugo and Danny McGeady’s Romantic Wedding: Inside the Magical Day

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

Biggest Loser’s Erica Lugo and Danny McGeady’s Romantic Wedding: Inside the Magical Day

It’s the little things. Erica Lugo and Danny McGeady had a version of their dream wedding on Saturday, December 12 — as close to the dream as they could get with the current protocols in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the pair were set to marry on April 4, a date with an important history to the couple. Although they couldn’t have a ceremony that day, they did tie the knot in their backyard with their friends and family watching via Zoom. This time around, they planned a big wedding at The Steam Plant in Ohio with the help of Pink With Envy event planning — and then had to cancel again. “We had pushed back to December 20, thinking we’d be in a better place. Then on December 1, our governor placed heavier restrictions. No dancing and no food stations (which we can understand) and after that, I couldn’t imagine having 100 guests just sitting at their tables from beginning to end. It’s not what I envisioned,” the Biggest Loser trainer, 33, told Us Weekly exclusively. “Being a pandemic bride has taken a lot of fun out of planning!” However, the bride and groom, 42, — who got engaged in December 2019 — still wanted to marry and their venue was available on December 12. So, they invited their parents, siblings and kids to watch them finally be able to celebrate their love. “When I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer [in 2018] and called to tell him, the first thing Danny said was, ‘OK, we are getting through it.’ We hadn’t even been dating a year and for him to say ‘we’ as in ‘together’ meant a lot,” Lugo told Us about knowing McGeady was The One. “He was with me every step of the way and made me feel loved and beautiful even during that tough time.” The wedding took place on Saturday in Ohio, her hometown, surrounded by 25 guests. The wedding party was tested before the ceremony and isolated beforehand. All guests stayed 8 feet apart during the reception along with wearing masks. Scroll through the gallery for the exclusive photos of the ceremony and reception. [podcast_block]

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

Biggest Loser’s Erica Lugo and Danny McGeady’s Romantic Wedding: Inside the Magical Day

It’s the little things. Erica Lugo and Danny McGeady had a version of their dream wedding on Saturday, December 12 — as close to the dream as they could get with the current protocols in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the pair were set to marry on April 4, a date with an important history to the couple. Although they couldn’t have a ceremony that day, they did tie the knot in their backyard with their friends and family watching via Zoom. This time around, they planned a big wedding at The Steam Plant in Ohio with the help of Pink With Envy event planning — and then had to cancel again. “We had pushed back to December 20, thinking we’d be in a better place. Then on December 1, our governor placed heavier restrictions. No dancing and no food stations (which we can understand) and after that, I couldn’t imagine having 100 guests just sitting at their tables from beginning to end. It’s not what I envisioned,” the Biggest Loser trainer, 33, told Us Weekly exclusively. “Being a pandemic bride has taken a lot of fun out of planning!” However, the bride and groom, 42, — who got engaged in December 2019 — still wanted to marry and their venue was available on December 12. So, they invited their parents, siblings and kids to watch them finally be able to celebrate their love. “When I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer [in 2018] and called to tell him, the first thing Danny said was, ‘OK, we are getting through it.’ We hadn’t even been dating a year and for him to say ‘we’ as in ‘together’ meant a lot,” Lugo told Us about knowing McGeady was The One. “He was with me every step of the way and made me feel loved and beautiful even during that tough time.” The wedding took place on Saturday in Ohio, her hometown, surrounded by 25 guests. The wedding party was tested before the ceremony and isolated beforehand. All guests stayed 8 feet apart during the reception along with wearing masks. Scroll through the gallery for the exclusive photos of the ceremony and reception. [podcast_block]

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

The Romance!

“I like a timeless classic look,” Lugo told Us. “It was intimate with lots of candlelight!

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

All in the Family

The wedding party included McGeady’s kids, Jack, 14, and Elise, 10, and Lugo’s son, Connor, 10. Jack was McGeady’s best man; Elise was Erica’s maid of honor, and Connor walked his mother down the aisle.

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

Changing It Up

While the FitLove founder loved her original dress — a princess-like style with a big skirt — after having skin removal surgery last month, she “went for a tight, sleek look” for dress No. 2.

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

The Music

Gary, the owner and DJ of GMJL Productions, curated a musical journey for the couple’s big day.

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

First Dance

“We danced to ‘When I Get My Hands on You,’” she told Us of the Bob Dylan song. “Listen to the lyrics and that’s our love.”

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

Let's Eat

Bernstein's Fine Catering created a variety of courses, instead of the original interactive food stations the bride hoped for. Each station was transformed into a course served directly to the guests, who got a little taste of everything the trainer loves. The main dessert was her favorite: a variety of Dunkin Donuts donuts.

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

Personal Touch

Each guest received their own engraved name plate at their place setting, courtesy of Fox Wedding Designs.

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

A Special Surprise

Kristi McCart, one of the contestants from The Biggest Loser, gifted her former trainer with a live art painter to paint their ceremony. Afterward, the newlyweds were given a watercolor painting as a cherished memento from their big day!

Credit: Megan Allen/Studio 22 Photography

There in Spirit

Although the Biggest Loser cast couldn’t attend, Lugo honored Team Red by wearing Christian Louboutin red-bottom heels.