I have now been the ring bearer at two wedding ceremonies.

The first time was when I was 3, and my parents were getting hitched. As adorable as any kid ever, I sprinted down the aisle, whacked the best man with the pillow and flopped down in a front pew, laughing.

That’s the legend, anyway.

This morning, I was the de facto ring bearer during a ceremony at the East Pasco Government Center.

Exchanging vows were two people I’d never met: Michelle Kumler, 47, a hair stylist at Euro Concepts Salon in Land O’ Lakes, and her fiancé, Gordon Schwarz, 49.

Gordon delivered stucco for a local construction company until getting laid off recently; he now works at Ukelele’s restaurant in Land O’ Lakes.

When Debbie Robinette, a deputy clerk at the government center, asked if they had rings, Kumler laughed.

“You’re gonna love this,” she said.

On cue, I produced their diamond-shaped rings: one red, one blue.

That’s right, they were Ring Pops, the confection introduced by Topps in 1977.

Kumler said she has elderly clients who have told stories of Great Depression-era ceremonies done with cigar bands instead of actual rings.

Known for giving away Ring Pops to younger clients, Kumler said the decision to use them in the ceremony was a no-brainer, especially since the couple – like so many others – are currently on slippery financial footing.

This morning, though, they seemed more happy to be together than worried about money.

“I was talking to the girls at work and told them I couldn’t wash dishes anymore – because my ‘diamond’ might melt,” Kumler said with a laugh.

Gordon laughed, too.

And nobody got hit with a pillow.

(Tampa Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN.)