Robert and Mary Beth Krebs had a white wedding, but the dress of choice was black leather.

When the two wed 25 years ago, they were joined by more than 150 friends and family members and a caravan of about 40 motorcycles. The only plans they made for May 21, 1983 were to be married by the late Throop Town Justice Frederick Zinc and to be joined by fellow riders in the wedding party.

“It was just the natural way to do it,” Robert said.

Everything else was as whimsical as their hair in the wind. The wedding party ended up twice bouncing between the old Polish Home Camp in Fleming and the Thirsty Owl (now Harley's) in Auburn. The procession was led by the happy couple's friend, Joe Demaio, blasting “White Wedding” by Billy Idol from two large speakers mounted on his Cadillac.

“Everything went great, we just went with the flow and everything fell into place,” Mary Beth said. “Everyone was fine with it, there were no complaints.”

Although the bulk of the day was free of disaster, it was delayed by the very vehicle that brought the party together. Robert was held up by more than an hour trying to repair the clutches on his 1965 Triumph Bonneville while Mary Beth waited at the camp.

“I was a nervous wreck, I didn't know when he would be coming,” she said.

He and Mary Beth have since moved into the home that hosted his proposal 25 years ago. In 1989, while the couple was house-hunting, they came across the space on 12 Owasco St., where Robert asked for Mary Beth's hand at a party hosted by the caretaker at the time.

The two had been dating for about a year when Robert popped the question, but they had known each other for about a decade prior. Their romance began after one date when Robert walked into Mary Beth's home and simply told her then-boyfriend to pack his things and leave. The gentleman did so, without a word, and the Krebs have been together ever since.

“Back then I wasn't the nicest guy,” Robert said. “But I wanted something in life, and I took it.”

More than 25 years later, the couple returned to the site of their reception party to renew their vows on their silver anniversary: Harley's.

“Harley's is like 'Cheers' for us, it's the spot for us,” Mary Beth said.

Following their wedding, the couple was unable to enjoy their betrothedness with a honeymoon due to Robert's busy schedule with Robinson Concrete. Time away also became difficult for the Krebs as they raised their five children: Billy, Heather, Misty, Tiffany and Jessica.

Though the two hope to one day spend a “real honeymoon” together, they look forward to enjoying another motorcycle gathering, the Thousand Island River Run, at the end of June as a mini-honeymoon of sorts.

“We've been riding out 25 years,” Robert said. “And we'll ride out another 25.”