Bride-to-be gets early wedding gift: A $250,000 lotto ticket

One Missouri groom gave his bride-to-be a perfect token of his love: a $250,000-winning lottery ticket.

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Robert Russell, an out-of-work welder, surprised his betrothed, 29-year-old Tracie Rogers, with the early wedding gift. The scratch card surprised them both with its bounty.

Rogers told STLtoday.com that she and Russell, 33, have been together 12 years and got engaged in 2007. They never have set a date for the wedding.

"It didn't seem right to spend that kind of money" on a big wedding, she told the website.

The Missouri Lottery says Rogers and Russell plan to use their winnings to pay off a house. Rogers says that will be one less burden for them to contend with as they begin married life.