Thursday, July 03, 2008






ANOTHER GOOD ONE GOT AWAY!

Season two 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard got married this weekend.

The 29-year-old R&B crooner, dubbed "The Velvet Teddy Bear" by soul icon Gladys Knight, wed Surata Zuri McCants at Canterbury United Methodist Church in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday.

Studdard and his 30-year-old bride took out a marriage license at the County Probate Office in Columbiana, Ala., last Monday.

Studdard met McCants in October 2006, when he was signing CDs at a Wal-Mart in Atlanta. Captivated by her beauty, he followed her to the store's toy department, and requested her telephone number.

Studdard had 20 groomsmen by his side, and there was no singing during the 30-minute ceremony - just an exchange of vows, prayers and music provided by a string ensemble.

He and his groomsmen wore custom-made black tuxedos by Joseph Abboud. The bride chose a white and ivory floor-length Casablanca wedding gown.

After completing wedding party pictures at the church, Mr. & Mrs. Studdard left in a cream-colored Cadillac Escalade en route to the reception, which was held at Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square in Homewood.

The two plan to make Birmingham their home.