Not just one, but two of our pro-gay vendors, Kate McElwee and Bernadette Coveney Smith of 14 Stories, helped pull this cross-country wedding for Andrea and Sunny off.
It broke our hearts when Prop 8 passed in California. We had missed the 5-month window to marry legally in our home state. We got engaged in June of 2009 on Sunny’s birthday, and we were originally planning a wedding in California with our friends and family. Since we are both from Ohio, many of our guests would have been flying in. Putting this all together seemed like a daunting task, and in the end we wouldn’t have been legally married. So we decided to keep it simple and go to Boston, just the two of us, to get hitched for real and have a lovely honeymoon in New England. We are having a party with our Midwestern friends and family in November.
So we headed off to Boston with our fabulous outfits. We walked the Freedom Trail, went to a Red Sox game at Fenway, spent a day in Provincetown, toured the Sam Adams Brewery and took lots of pictures. The day of our wedding was supposed to be rainy so we arranged to be married at the Cambridge City Hall. This location was significant because it was the first place in the nation to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It didn’t rain that day, but it was one of the windiest days of the year. When we walked out of the hotel, the veil flew out of my hair. Luckily, our photographer, Kate, caught it. We had a beautiful ceremony, and then had a fun photo shoot in City Hall and near the Christian Science Center. Later, we enjoyed some bubbly and a delicious meal with an amazing view of the city at Top of the Hub. It was a fantastic day.
We made the ceremony meaningful to both of us by incorporating mementos from our family members
who could not be there with us. Sunny wrapped her bouquet in the lace handkerchief her mother had been given on her wedding day by her mother. Andrea brought handkerchiefs from her Grandma and her mother, and she wore a bracelet borrowed from her sister. We also had an excerpt from the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts included in our ceremony to remind us and anyone who watches our wedding video of why marriage is so important.
Our favorite moment of the day was when the justice of the peace pronounced us legally married. It was very moving, and it was affirmation of why we had gone to all the trouble of going across the country to be married and of why we believe in the right to marry.
Our favorite design elements were those we created ourselves. Sunny made her own button for her suit using supplies she found at a sewing store and leftover fabric from the hemming of her pants. Sunny also did a wonderful job bedazzling Andrea’s shoes using Swarovski crystals and fabric glue.
Initially, Sunny had a very difficult time figuring out what to wear. Such a difficult time that I started a blog about it, http://lesbianweddingoutfit.blogspot.com/ . She is a traditional person, and traditionally a bride wears a dress, but she did not feel comfortable wearing a dress. She still wanted to wear white because she is a bride. It was not easy, but we finally found a great white suit. It fit and it was on sale! After a few alterations and a custom-made button, it was perfect.
Vendors:
Planner—Bernadette Coveney Smith of 14 Stories
She has wonderful, convenient packages for couples from out of state who want to be married legally.
She walked us through applying for a license, getting a judge’s approval for marriage without delay
(Mass has a 3-day waiting period), and picking up the license. She arranged for a justice of the peace,
the photographer, the cake, the hair and makeup artist, and her wife made our bouquets. It was great
because all we had to do was show up with our outfits.
Photographer—Kate McElwee
We were her first gay wedding. She was very excited to finally have the opportunity to shoot one. She
did an excellent job and she made us feel totally at ease.
Venue—Cambridge City Hall
This is where the first marriage licenses for same-sex couples were issued in the United States.
Cake—Canto 6 Bakery in Jamaica Plain, MA
Andrea’s Outfit—Dress by David’s Bridal; Alterations by Margene’s Bridal in Oakland, Ca; Accessories
from Macy’s and Loehmann’s; shoes bedazzled by Sunny; Veil by BellaBridalVeils on Etsy.com; garter by
NutfieldWeaver on Etsy.com
Sunny’s Outfit—Suit by Calvin Klein; alterations by Margene’s Bridal in Oakland, Ca; shirt from Banana
Republic; shoes by Bandolino; earrings from Macy’s
Andrea’s hair and makeup—Lisette Murphy, stylingbylisette@gmail.com
Such a beautiful wedding day and you both look so happy! I’m so glad that after all the issues you had that the day of went perfect! Love that last image!!!!
Yay! Congrats! Much love and many blessings!!
Awww :) Thanks so much for sharing this – it is great hearing the background story from Andrea. I loved working with you both, and am so happy that you were able to make it legal over here in Mass.
Such a beautifully written story of your wedding! The photos are GORGEOUS, and more than half of that is because you both look so radiant, at ease with yourselves and each other, and completely in love!! Way to go for getting legally married in Boston, and I hope you enjoy and relish your party in November. Congrats!
I was thinking the whole time that Sunny perfected the bridal suit. It seriously couldn’t look better. Awesome pics, awesome story…CONGRATS!!!
The photos are gorgeous!