VF: Now, ladies, ask your husband if he remembers what you were wearing on that first date! I had to think that Mr. Rawlings should have realized at that moment his heart was lost. I wanted to know how the two of them got to that first date. How did they meet?

Anthony told the story of meeting Claire in Atlanta, Georgia. She had worked at a local television studio as an assistant meteorologist. Due to a recent buy out of the station by TTT-TV (according to Mr. Rawlings’s publicist this article is a strictly personal view of Mr. Rawlings, no Rawlings Industry holdings are to be discussed), Claire was working at the Red Wing, a dining establishment well known in Atlanta. Anthony just happened to be meeting some business associates there one evening, and after his meeting was complete, he began talking to the most beautiful bartender he’d ever seen. He said one of the many assets of Ms. Nichols was that she did not know him. Claire reiterated, “I really did not know who he was, even after he told me his name. I don’t watch much television or read business journals.” The two newlyweds seemed to get lost in each other’s eyes while they reminisced. “I thought I had heard the name Anthony Rawlings before, but I had no idea why.” Anthony said the rest was history. He knew he needed to know her and know more about her.

VF: Was it “love” at first sight?

They smiled at one another. Claire shook her head. “Probably not,” and she added, “Anthony is a complicated, private man. You can love the wrapping paper, but with him it takes some time to find out what is inside. I wouldn’t give my life to someone without knowing what is inside the package.”

“What is love? Love is when one person knows all of your secrets, your deepest, darkest, most dreadful secrets of which no one else in the world knows. And yet in the end, that one person does not think any less of you.”

But Mrs. Rawlings added she has seen the inside of the package and loves it more than the wrapping paper.

Anthony, on the other hand, related his journey to that of Romeo, who said, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight. For I never saw true beauty till this night.” Perhaps I have waited much longer and knew when I met her that my wait was complete.

VF: Mrs. Rawlings, can you share some of your findings with our readers? What have you found under that amazing wrapping paper?

Blushing slightly at the inference, she quickly recovers. “Well, he isn’t exactly how he appears.” Anthony seemed to be interested in what she was about to reveal. Claire continued, “For example, he has been known to hold webinars and web conferences from home in a shirt, tie, suit jacket, gym shorts, and sneakers.” She smiled at her husband, who playfully shook his head. He responded, “Great. Now I am going to have to stand up before each webinar to alleviate the participants’ curiosity.” He smiled broadly. When asked if anything else surprised her about Anthony, after some reflection she answered yes. He is a Vikings fan. They both grinned. Being originally from Indiana, Mrs. Rawlings said she couldn’t imagine she would marry anyone who isn’t a Colts fan. Anthony made a comment about real football teams that play outdoors, and Claire was quick to mention two recent trips to the Super Bowl. Their playful banter was enjoyable to observe.

VF: Have you two had any arguments, disagreements, or fights?

“No!” They answered simultaneously and laughed. Anthony took the lead on this question. “Of course. I can’t imagine spending quality time with someone and always agreeing. That is not what I want in my life. I have multitudes of people around me, in my life that will agree with my every thought. Claire has ‘stood up’ to me in ways that captains of business have not. Her strength and determination are what I fell in love with.” Tenderly wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he added, “As well as her beauty and intelligence.” After smiling at Anthony, Claire added, “I have been told that some of those qualities can be infuriating.” This reporter enjoyed Anthony’s dismissal of that comment.

VF: Will either of you share the story of the proposal?

Claire volunteered, “Oh, I will. He was amazing. First it was dinner in Manhattan. He took me to the theater district. We dined at the Crown Plaza Hotel and our table had a view of Time Square. I had no idea what his plans were for the evening, he enjoys surprises. After dinner we went to see ‘The Merchant of Venice’ with Al Pacino, fantastic by the way. Afterward, I was honestly tired and ready to go back to my hotel. But instead we went to Central Park.” Laughing she recalled that it was very cold that night, the night before Thanksgiving. It hadn’t snowed, but she repeated, very cold. However, he had planned for that with mittens and blankets. After each sentence she would look into his eyes. Even this reporter saw the twinkle in her green eyes as she recounted his proposal. Claire went on to say that she had not expected a proposal. She was completely shocked. But there he was, in a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park, under the lights, with a diamond ring.

VanityFair will add that her “diamond ring” is actually a designer original Tiffany & Co. 4.3 carat brilliant center stone bordered by a delicate diamond bead set in mil-grain detail in platinum. The matching wedding band is also platinum, with delicate inset diamonds. While actual value would not be released by Mr. Rawlings or Tiffany & Co., New York, where he is said to have purchased the set, due to the size, clarity, and unique cut, it is estimated above $400,000.

VF: Did you say yes immediately? (Now come on, ladies, think about what you would have done.)

Claire sat back. “No.” At this Anthony smiled and put his hand on his wife’s knee. He goes on with the answer, “No, she didn’t. She made me wait for what seemed like an eternity.” But leaning over to kiss his bride, he added, “She finally relented. And I was elated.” The worst thing you can do for love is deny it; so when you find

that special someone, don’t let anyone or anything get in your way.

VF: Now some people have questioned the quickness of your nuptials. What do you have to say to those critiques?

Anthony answered, “I guess they have never been as in love.” Claire continued, “We didn’t want to wait. We had made our decision. We wanted our family and friends to share in our happiness.”

VF: The personal accounts were extremely complimentary. How did you pull off the wedding of the century in less than a month?

Mrs. Rawlings replied, “With the best wedding planner and coordinator in the world! They were amazing. We never worried about a thing.”

According to the press releases the wedding was magnificent. The bride was gorgeous in an exquisite Vera Wang gown, reportedly from an elite Manhattan boutique. The groom was dazzling in a custom Armani tuxedo. The estate was impressively decorated with a Christmas theme. Lights and evergreens were everywhere, with deep red accents. The guest list was limited and exclusive, but was said to contain some powerful business and political individuals, as well as personal friends and family of the bride. The groom’s only family is now his wife. (Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings in wedding attire standing at the base of the grand stairway, decorations can be seen behind them. Note: multiple wedding pictures and decorations can be seen in a collage of pictures at the end of the article.)

VF: Addressing Claire Rawlings, how has it been to be thrust into the public eye? It seems that the stigma that accompanied the death of Princess Diana has begun to fade and reporters are once again brazenly pursuing celebrities.