Couple delays first kiss until wedding

CHICAGO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A Chicago couple say they followed through on a vow to not even kiss each other until they were officially married.

Claudaniel Fabien, 30, and Melody LaLuz, 28 -- both abstinence educators -- kissed for the first time Saturday at their wedding, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.

"It was surreal," Fabien said. "It was like, my other self came out and said, 'Look dude, you're kissing her!'"

Fabien works for the non-profit Confederation of Spanish American Families, while his bride directs the "What's Good" program for the LYDIA Home Association, a Christian service agency, the Sun-Times reported.

The two met on a mission trip to Uganda in 2006 but postponed dating while LaLuz completed a seven-year vow not to date until June 2007. LaLuz, now Mrs. Fabien, described their first kiss as magical.

"It feels like such a gift," said Melody. "When you value a kiss, it becomes something of worth."