At a holiday reception for the press corps Wednesday night, Gov. Charlie Crist announced that he will allow a "pool" reporter to cover his wedding to Carole Rome next Friday. He chose Lucy Morgan of the St. Petersburg Times, one of a number of reporters pressing for access to the wedding and for the list of invitees.

After mentioning Morgan, Crist said: "Maybe I let the cat out of the bag. So be it. We're open around here." Crist and his staff are trying to balance their desire for privacy with media interest in the wedding -- the first time a sitting Florida governor will be married since Claude Kirk in 1967. In a pool arrangement, a reporter observes for all news organizations, including competitors.

Crist has declined to release the guest list, calling it "private," and has expressed discomfort with appearing to hurt the feelings of those not invited. "This is a small reception with close friends and family," Crist said, acknowledging that some invitees are lobbyists who seek to influence him.

At the reception, Crist and Rome welcomed reporters, editors and
state agency communications staffers in the foyer of the Governor's
Mansion. In brief remarks, with most of the capital press in the room,
he singled out communications director Erin Isaac. "She works
incredibly hard. I'm very blessed to have you in this administration,
Erin. Thanks for not going anywhere," Crist said.

He said he was "blessed" to have found Rome, adding of his wedding:
"In just nine days, it gets consummated in a very formal way in my
hometown of St. Petersburg, and I'm looking forward to it."

-- Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo