Oregon Couple to Rush to Bookstore Right After Wedding for Harry Potter Book Release

PORTLAND, Ore. – It's going to be an extra-special wedding night for one Oregon couple this Friday.

Courtney Lanahan and Shawn Gordon of Clackamas are heading straight from their wedding reception to Barnes & Noble Friday night to get the final Harry Potter book.

The book's official release date is Saturday but many stores will be hosting midnight events to celebrate the debut of the much-anticipated "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

The wedding starts at 7. The reception will follow. And at 11:30 the limo will whisk the new Mr. and Mrs. Gordon away — to the mall.

"It's the best wedding present," Lanahan said.

The couple didn't realize when they set their wedding date that they'd be backing up against the book's release date. Harry Potter fan Lanahan, 23, and her sister started talking after they realized the conflict.

Her sister suggested the couple stop at the bookstore on the way to the hotel, but Lanahan was unsure — her fiancee is not a Potter fan. She mentioned it to him anyhow but thought nothing would come of it.

On the sly, Gordon, 24, decided to surprise his new bride and contacted the Barnes & Noble at Clackamas Town Center that she frequents. But after realizing the amount of planning involved, he decided to let her in on the surprise.

The Barnes & Noble staff were thrilled to host the happy couple, said Page Jordan, community relations manager for the store.

The couple will miss the pre-release activities and probably won't win the costume contest when they show up in their wedding attire. But as a wedding gift, the store will get them the first spot in line.

Lanahan, an elementary school teacher working as a substitute, worried that the kids and parents would be mad. She tries to stay on top of children's literature and knows how much this book means to everyone.

But the store said it will make a big announcement to make sure there are no sore feelings.

Lanahan may be worrying if it is going to rain at her wedding but said she isn't worried that author J.K. Rowling will off Harry.

"She can't," she said. "Harry Potter fans will freak out, I'll freak out."

She said they aren't leaving for their honeymoon until a week after the wedding so she has that time to finish the book and find out.