As Tina Ackles walked down the aisle, a line of 168 women in black dresses lined up behind her.
This bridesmaid parade not only stunned guests, but also earned a Texan woman a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The wedding, which took place on April 18, 2015 in Florida, marked the end of a 12-year relationship and an unexpected triumph.
The idea to gather a record number of companions was born out of Tina's connection with the American Business Women's Association (ABWA).
Since joining the organization in 1999, she has found hundreds of like-minded women, many of whom have been asking for years to be part of her future wedding.
When Tina sent out invitations through the ABWA general chat, she didn't expect every one of the 168 women to say yes.
Preparations for the event resembled a military operation.
Six months before the ceremony, the bride announced the date, allowing the participants to plan the schedule. Discussions about dresses, shoes and accessories did not stop for a day.
Opting for black dresses with red accents—ABWA's signature colors—Tina asked everyone to carry a white carnation as a symbol of unity.
The record line-up of girlfriends included relatives: a sister, cousins and a niece.
The remaining 164 seats were taken by colleagues from the association. Despite the scale, the ceremony retained its intimacy. “It was like a huge family gathering,” Tina admitted.
Guests watching the procession of 168 women compared it to a living waterfall of black silk.
The hero of the occasion still can't believe that she's made history. "I love grand events, but I didn't plan such an adventure," she laughs.
