Dahlings, how about this for a fun wedding? Three clowns, a juggler, a magician, the Betty Spaghetti Children's Choir, two Star Wars characters ... and, oh yes, Santa Claus.

There had to be merriment when B.J. the clown married the guy who owns a toy store.

Betty Simmonds, a.k.a. B.J. the clown, and Jeff Smith, owner of Kool Stuff Toys & Collectibles on King Street East, celebrated their wedding with a rainbow picnic-style wedding at noon this past Sunday at LaSalle Park, Burlington.

Guests included Betty's 10 former day-care dudes, the name she called her former charges at the day-care centre she operated for nine years and more than 20 foster children she has looked after for more than 12 years.

Her adopted son, Denzell, 10, walked her down the aisle and Chelsey, Betty's 22-year-old daughter from her former marriage, was her maid of honour.

And now for the romantic, almost toy-store storybook of how they met. Denzell was the matchmaker who introduced the couple when he was four.

He ran in the door after he'd been on an outing to Kool Stuff excitedly shouting, "Mommy, Mommy, you have to take me to the Batman store (there was a Batman picture in the window) to meet Jeff." The next day, off Betty went with four pre-school boys hanging off her, to buy toys and to meet Jeff. After that, the children went into the store twice a week, each with a loonie, for the best deal in the store -- a bin that advertised five items for $1.

There was hardly any expectation of a romance for Betty, who had been a single mother for 20 years. "Here I am, a mother dragging a wagon, pushing a baby buggy and always with six kids hanging off me. My friends reminded me I didn't look single." Close friend, Carol Campbell-Taylor, told her she might want to choose another profession or she could be single for the rest of her life.

It just so happened that Jeff loved kids and had been a child and youth worker for 20 years before he opened the toy store. Betty and Jeff became friends. Two years later, Betty invited him to a dinner dance at Foster Parent Recognition Night for the Hamilton Children's Aid Society.

"We were dancing and he looked into my eyes and said, 'Betty I love you, I want to marry you.'

"I was absolutely shocked."

Betty quickly asked if he was sure because she knew he wanted children and she couldn't have any anymore. His reply? "Betty, do you know anyone with more children than you? I have learned from you that it doesn't matter if a child is by birth, adoption or in your care because the twinkle in your eye is always the same for all of them."

She said yes right away because she was already in love with his spirit. "I loved him, but I didn't let on."

Jeff finished the foster training program before he moved in with Betty three years ago. They have four foster children. "I knew I always wanted children and when Betty walked in with five well-behaved children, I was impressed. Most have trouble walking down the street with one child and she walked in with five," says Jeff. It wasn't long until Denzell put in his two cents worth when he told Betty, "Mommy, I want you to marry Daddy. I want you to wear a long white dress with marbles (pearls) on it and I will wear a tux like dad and ride in a limo."

Jeff's proposal gets a 10 in the romance department. He took her on a big date last year on Sept. 30. He wouldn't tell her where they going. They arrived at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, but Betty didn't know why. It turned out to be a David Clayton-Thomas (of the former Blood, Sweat and Tears) concert -- special because their song was, You've Made Me So Very Happy.

"I was so excited because I knew all the songs. There we are sitting in the eighth row and I'm dancing when Thomas announced there would be a surprise with the next song. Then he yelled, 'Jeff are you out there?' Jeff put up his hand and then everything seemed to go into slow motion. Thomas said to Jeff, 'Are you ready to sing the song?' Jeff got down on one knee and mouthed the words to the song as Thomas sang it. Jeff gave me a heart-shaped diamond ring. When the song was finished, Thomas said, 'Betty, I was busy singing and I didn't hear your response.' I yelled, 'yes', the lights came up, Thomas announced the engagement and the crowd cheered and gave us a standing ovation. Then Thomas sang, You're the One." The event hadn't been planned with Thomas, says Jeff. "I just let him know through e-mail that I was planning to propose and if there was a commotion he'd know why. I was really apologizing in advance."

And a year later Denzell's dream came true. Betty's cousin, Marion Chapman, made the long white dress with marbles, Daddy and Denzell's tuxes matched and he got his ride in the limo.

Jeff's surprise gifts from Betty? The two Star Wars characters who were ushers and gave out programs and a carriage with two horses to take the guests around the park for two hours.

Betty's surprise gift is still a surprise but it's coming soon, says Jeff.

sbourret@thespec.com

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