Race to the Altar, Episode 3: To Have and to Hold a Grudge

Last week on Race to the Altar, Susan and Coyt won both challenges and were the sole power couple. To help make their decision, the couple visited the other couples and heard a rumor that Becca and Andy, part of their commitment, would vote them out. They grabbed onto that rumor and held on with both hands. Even after Ethan and Carolyn and Tonya and Andree told them they hadn’t heard such rumors, Coyt and Susan broke their commitment and eliminated Becca and Andy.

This week’s episode begins in Ethan and Carolyn’s room, where they talk about how they will miss Becca and Andy. Ethan says, “It’s not going to be the fun we had. It’s going to be a game.”

The game is on in Chris and Cindy’s room. Coyt and Susan are there talking strategy. Coyt wonders if Grace and Robert are a powerhouse in disguise and are losing challenges on purpose so they won’t be perceived as a threat. If that’s the case, then well done, Grace and Robert. Coyt and Susan tell Chris and Cindy that they are the couple that they trust the most. In an interview, Susan says that it’s odd that Chris and Cindy aren’t part of their commitment. She has told Coyt that she wants to reevaluate their alliances, but Coyt thinks they should stick with the commitment they already have. It’s a little late for that, Coyt, considering that you’ve already broken that commitment.

At 11:00, the couples meet with Colin Cowie, the designer who will be creating the wedding for the winning couple. Today, the couples will choose the tables they want for the reception. These tables aren’t your standard white tablecloths with Jordan almonds and a centerpiece that one of the guests gets to take home. They’re much more elaborate. One Colin describes as the “beach table,” featuring candles in glass hurricanes, sand, and pretty shells. Another has a “really groovy” sequined tablecloth. There’s one with a dramatic burgundy toile tablecloth, another done in blue and silver, and one with a gorgeous velvet burnout tablecloth. The most traditional table Colin describes as for “the princess bride.” It has gold-trimmed crystal and lots of pink and peach roses. It’s gorgeous and would have looked fabulous with the gold beads on my wedding dress and the roses in my bouquet. Darn it, where was Colin when I needed him? The couples are directed to find their favorite table and sit down at it. Colin then points out that one plate is missing from each table. The missing plate for each table is at the bottom of the fountain in front of the hotel. The grooms-to-be must run to the fountain to find their plates and win the table of their dreams.

The men race off as the women yell descriptions of the plates after them. Andree is the first to jump into the fountain, followed closely by Coyt. Robert trips on the edge of the fountain, falls in, and breaks a plate with his hand. Ironically, he managed to cut his hand on the very plate that he needed to grab. Meanwhile, Vinny thinks he’s found his plate and holds it over his head in triumph. “Like I was the messiah or something,” he elaborates. While the other women are watching from a distance, Susan is right there by the fountain watching the guys. She yells to Coyt that Vinny has their plate. Coyt chases Vinny around the fountain and grabs it. In an interview, Vinny says he regrets not chucking Coyt’s plate across the street. That would have been hilarious. Slowly, the men find their plates.

Back at their table, Chris and Cindy are fighting. It turns out that Chris wouldn’t jump into the fountain. He says, “I wasn’t going to get in the water and ruin my shoes.” Cindy is furious and says how unhappy she is with their table and with him for his lack of dedication. In their room after the challenge, the couple continues to fight. Cindy says, “You’re a guy! I can’t believe you were worried about your shoes!” She points out that she knows he’d give her a hard time if she had refused to get her hair wet in a challenge. Chris fights back for a while, then goes into the other room. Cindy says, “I don’t want to talk to you! Shut up! Just shut up!” Then she tells him, “You know what? I cannot stand you right now because you’re a jerk. You don’t know how to fight.” You know what I’ll bet isn’t suggested in all those self-help books about how to fight fair? Calling your partner a jerk and telling him to shut up. Cindy concludes her missive by saying, “I’m probably not the right woman for you, then.” I am left wondering what the infamous shoes look like.

The couples meet in the casino for challenge #1, High Stakes Blackjack. Lisa tells them that this will be their physical challenge because they’ll need all the strength they can get. Why? Because they’re not playing for play money - each couple gets $10,000 in cash. The couple with the most money after 20 hands is not only Power Couple #1, but also gets to keep their winnings. The minimum bet is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. Everyone is nervous and excited. Seems like they all like cash. Vinny is especially psyched. He says that blackjack is his game and that he has a lot of experience with it. He considers this a “chance to steal the power from Coyt and Susan.”