MARYVILLE - Edward LaRue, 82, and Marlene Parsons, 78, exchanged wedding vows in the pool at the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA in Maryville, Illinois, in mid-December 2025. The ceremony, held at 1 Maryville Town Center Drive, included family, friends, and even a lifeguard who participated in the event.
The couple, who began dating in December 2023, met at the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA pool, which inspired their choice of venue. LaRue proposed shortly after, but Parsons waited until 2025 to accept. Both had lost longtime spouses, which slowed the process of moving to a marriage.
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LaRue took Parsons on their first date on December 5, 2023, and the couple decided to hold their wedding in the pool because it was where their friendship and relationship began. The YMCA’s aquatics director officiated the ceremony. The celebration featured a bouquet toss and a first dance, both conducted in the water.
Both LaRue and Parsons described the pool wedding as “great” and said they would not change a thing.
The Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA administration released a statement expressing their honor in hosting the wedding. “A celebration that began with two people who met through our doors… and chose to start forever with us, too,” the statement said. It added, “People connect with our dedicated staff and begin journeys that transform their lives for good. At our Y, you never know what you’ll discover — new passions, new friends, new confidence, even new chapters of your life.”
“Every day, something special happens here — something that reminds us that the Y is more than just a building. It’s a place where connections take root, grow, and sometimes even become life-changing,” the YMCA said.
