Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy prepare for move to St. Charles

"I would move into a ditch with Jenny if she wanted me to," declared singer/actor Donnie Wahlberg about his wife, actress and autism activist Jenny McCarthy, on last week's episode of the couple's A&E network reality show, "Donnie Loves Jenny."

Instead, the celebrity couple is moving to St. Charles – and chronicling the move for viewers across the world.

"We're delighted they're here, and we're happy for the publicity they're giving our city," said DeAnn Wagner, associate director of the St. Charles Convention Center and Visitors Bureau.

While Wahlberg's IMdb biography states that he has lived most of his life in Boston and New York, McCarthy grew up in south suburban Evergreen Park and the southwest side of Chicago. She and her son, Evan, lived in a five-bedroom rental house at 316 S. Seventh St. in Geneva from 2012 to 2014, when the house was listed for sale, after which she rented a different part-time home in Geneva, according to a June 2014 Chicago Tribune article. McCarthy and Wahlberg were married last fall at the historic landmark Hotel Baker in St. Charles, with a wedding cake made by celebrity pastry chef Alain Roby of the All Chocolate Kitchen in Geneva.

"I love the Midwest," McCarthy told viewers during the show's second season premiere episode. "The fact that we're now packing up and moving back feels like this dream come true."

The episode features McCarthy's efforts to reassure Wahlberg that he, too, will like the western suburbs as the couple prepares to leave their New York City home.

"I feel like Donnie is going to get there and be like, 'Oh, my God, we've turned into the Bundys," she fretted on camera. "The difference between St. Charles and New York, in my mind, is just a much slower pace. It's where kids can walk around the neighborhood and not get kidnapped or molested."

A preview for this week's episode of "Donnie Loves Jennie" includes footage of the couple exploring their new house and shopping for furniture, as well as McCarthy accompanying her husband on his recent singing tour. Other references to life in St. Charles are expected in future episodes, Wagner commented.

"Since they had their wedding here, we've seen a renewed interest in St. Charles as a destination wedding venue," she said. "We put up a web page about unique weddings in St. Charles last fall, and it's received nearly 10,000 hits. They're also helping us spread our message: the more people become aware of the city, the better we can let them know about all the entertainment, shopping, dining and other amenities we have to offer."