FORT SMITH, AR (KFSM/CNN) – A couple who once ate at Olive Garden nearly every day for seven weeks is now planning to name their daughter Olivia Garton.
Justin and Jordan Garton chose their baby’s name to celebrate her Italian heritage, but it had been a joke in the family for quite a while that the couple would name her after Olive Garden.
The two once visited the restaurant frequently after hitting a financial rough patch.
“That's when we bought the ‘Never Ending Pasta Pass’ because we didn't have enough money for groceries. We knew that the investment in the $100 Pasta Pass would save us money, and it did wind up saving us over $250,” said mother-to-be Jordan Garton.
The couple decided on the name Olivia after they fell in love with it – but it helped that the name resembled that of the restaurant.
“So, we just knew that that was going to be it, and then we were like, ‘Oh yeah, we can still subtlety make the pun,’” Jordan Garton said.
After the baby’s name was chosen, friends of the Gartons surprised them with a personalized onesie for the baby whose design resembled the Olive Garden logo.
Still, the couple says they didn’t directly name the baby after the restaurant.
"We just happened to have ties to the restaurant. The name is close, but obviously, we didn't want it to be directly naming her after the restaurant,” said father-to-be Justin Garton.
Olive Garden got word about Olivia’s name and told the parents that the popular food chain would have a special surprise in store for the new baby.
"To hear from Olive Garden, they've reached out to us, and they've even said they're going to give Olivia an early birthday present. So, we're excited about that,” Justin Garton said.
With the baby’s due date in early December, it won’t be long before Olivia Garton can have her first experience at Olive Garden.
"We'll probably be there several times before she can even eat solid foods,” Justin Garton said.
The little girl’s full name will be Olivia Michelle Garton.
Her initials will be O.M.G., another thing her parents plan to have fun with.
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