Mama June & Sugar Bear Won’t Confirm Whether They Had a Wedding or Vow Renewal
May 6, 2013 by Hollywoodite
As TMZ.com reported Sunday morning, the stars of TLC reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo June “Mama” Shannon and Michael “Sugar Bear” Thompson exchanged vows in front of friends, family… and camera crew as loved ones were asked not to take their own photos of the ceremony.
The couple would not confirm whether they were already married or whether this was them renewing their vows. Fans have been asking for a while and the most popular theory, repeated in the tabloids, is that Mama and Sugar Bear held off marriage–even after nine years and one child together–because of lingering legal issues pertaining to Mama’s other baby daddies and child support concerns. It was difficult to pin down specifics, but there appeared to be pressing legal reasons to wait to get married. So they waited.
But now they’ve had a ceremony and the story that’s inevitably going to air on TLC is that this is a “wedding,” their first and only.
The bride and groom wore camo and sneakers and Honey Boo Boo wore a pageant-looking dress. Splash News seemed to have been granted exclusive access to photograph the wedding and PEOPLE has the exclusive on the day itself.
In her interview, Mama talks about the events and her relationship advice for her daughters.
They had vows, a cake, a camouflage gown and all their family and friends present, but Here Comes Honey Boo Boo stars Mama June (June Shannon, 33) and Sugar Bear, 41, won’t say whether they’ve actually gotten married – or just recommitted to each other.
On Sunday, friends and family, including Honey Boo Boo (Alana Thompson, 7) and big sisters Pumpkin, Chickadee and Chubbs, joined the duo in their Georgia backyard for a ceremony to celebrate their love, followed by a rowdy family barbecue on what happens to be Cinco de Mayo.
“The day was very special mostly because my girls were able to take part in it,” says June. “I felt like it was important for them to see this moment and celebrate my love for Sugar Bear.”
The fun-loving family, whose series returns to TLC July 17, didn’t go over the top with the celebration.
“My sister baked the cake, and we spent most of the money on barbecue,” says June. “We stayed true to our roots and made the focus on the family and my commitment to Sugar Bear. You can definitely plan an event on a budget!”
And whether or not they’re actually married, June says she’s found the secret to keeping her relationship strong.
“Never settle for a man who doesn’t treat you right,” she says. “If a guy doesn’t love everything about you, move on! There are plenty of other fish in the sea.”
“I give this advice to my daughters,” she adds, “because I always want them to be themselves and surround themselves with people who love them for them.” – via PEOPLE Magazine.