

Tiny Tim tiptoed through the tulips with his teenage bride, lovely Miss Vicki Budinger, on Johnny
Carson's Tonight Show last December 17th. As 84 percent of the TV audience watched breathlessly, the
singer, who had once vowed he wouldn't marry, swore to be "sweet, gentle, kind and not puffed up"to
his 17-year-old bride. Johnny's guests then toasted the couple with champagne, but the guests of honor
opted for milk and honey.

- Miss Vicki was scared before she wed and so were Mom & Dad Budinger. Her sister (top) lil' ushers (bot.) were thrilled and couldn't wait for the show to get started.
- Vicki didn't want her $2,500 Edwardian gown to get messy, so she donned it at the studio. Daddy hated to lose his little girl, but thought she looked great for Tiny.
- Tiny put his makeup on carefully, so he would be "clean" for Vicki, his little angel from heaven.
- Tiny's parents, Tillie & Butros Khaury, think Vicki's a lucky girl, "Everybody loves him," says Mom, but she'd hoped he'd cut his hair before the day of his wedding.
- Victorian bridesmaids-Vicki's sisters- tiptoed thru 10,000 tulips men laid out in Carson's studio (top r.).
Rites looked easy, but family rehearsed before (r.).
- Eager Vicki dressed too fast & she & Dad fret backstage.
- A familiar figure at late talk shows, Tiny's fan Mrs. Miller was a specially invited guest.
"Miss Vicki got me out of drinking alcohol," confessed the grinning bride-groom, who is reputed to be
45.
During the ceremony, Tiny kissed his bride with great gusto-it was only the fifth
kiss the couple had exchanged since they met. A separate bedroom Bahamian honeymoon was the word of
the day. The curly-haired singer said that like Tobias of the Bible, he wished to offer God the first
fruits of his marriage. He and Miss Vicki had planned to spend their first three days in prayer, but
later decided to prolong their time apart.
Togetherness was also not to be the order of their lives. The couple claimed they
wanted to have separate bedrooms, separate bathrooms, and dine apart throughout the marriage.
It was all original wedding ceremony, written by the bride and groom and performed
by the Rev. Wm. Glenesk. Miss Vicki's father gave away the blushing bride who was clad in a $2,500
Edwardian gown. With hair that was especially combed for the occasion, Tiny looked dignified, but very
cheerful. So did the 10,000 tulips flown in from Holland in honor of his hit tune.
Tiny sang his bride two songs that he had written just for her as she watched
speechlessly. The couple met when Tiny was on a promotion tour for his book Beautiful Thoughts. Vicki
bought several copies of the book and had Tiny autograph each one.
- Vowing not to be "puffed up" Tiny & his new wife exchanged their 5th kiss & went off to a gay separate bedroom honeymoon and many nights of prayer.
- Keeping a tight reign on his new bride, Tiny and Vicki passed up champagne for a toast of milk and honey.
The smiling bridegroom said Vicki was "the most beautiful girl I have seen" & sang her a special song entreating: "Oh, won't you come and love me, oh pretty Vicki mine."
- Johnny's other guests (l. to r.): Ed McMahon, Flo Henderson, "Tiptoe Thru The Tulips" Nick Lucas & Phyllis Diller.
- It was really a cake to look up to. Hand in hand, Tiny and Vicki measured up to their 1st obstacle: c
cutting it!
March 1970
Source: Motion Picture
Reproduced according to "Fair Use"
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