PITTSBURGH — A bride and groom accused of fighting with members of another wedding party staying at their hotel are now facing more serious charges.

David Wielechowski, 32, of Glenshaw, and Christa Wielechowski, 25, were initially charged with simple assault and related counts following the April 27 brawl. Police allege that David Wielechowski kicked his wife, then the couple fought members of another wedding party who tried to help her. The Wielechowskis have said they were joking but had to defend themselves when attacked.

On Friday, Ross Township police charged David Wielechowski with two counts of aggravated assault and his wife with one count of aggravated assault. Both were also charged with criminal conspiracy and several additional simple assault counts.

Police cited injuries to two men who tried to intervene. One man was kicked in the groin and will likely need surgery and the other is scheduled to have surgery to repair a thumb ligament, according to the criminal complaint.

Attorneys for the Wielechowskis disputed the accounts of the incident by police and witnesses and maintained that their clients were victims rather than aggressors. They suggested that the new charges were filed because the Wielechowskis told their side in a television interview.

"One might wonder why the charges were not filed in the original complaint when the original statements from the witnesses were more fresh in their respective minds," Christa Wielechowski's attorney, Michael Worgul, said in a statement.

Sgt. William Barrett described the night as "quite a melee," saying it took time to sort things out and determine the severity of injuries. But it was clear early on further charges would be forthcoming, he said.

In the interview, Christa Wielechowski said the fight began in the hallway outside their hotel room after both she and her husband had been drinking. She said her husband lightly tapped her rear with his foot as a joke after she told him he could kiss her there, but she tripped on her wedding gown and fell.