Back in early spring, Kevin and Dana invited their children, parents and immediate family to join them at one of their favorite date spots, the Kreidersville Covered Bridge, for an intimate wedding ceremony. They wanted their wedding ceremony to express the seriousness and intentional nature of their commitment--to be an example for what they wanted their children to strive for in their own future relationships.
Tyler and his new sisters
Kevin and Dana’s relationship is best summed up by the Mayan phrase “In Lak’ech Ala K’in”, which means “I am another yourself”. It’s a statement of unity and oneness. For many, this phrase, In Lak’ech Ala K’in is a moral code and a way to create a positive reality for all life. And it was this shared vision to become each others' motivators as they each worked hard to become the best version of themselves that defines their love story. Anyone close to this couple can see how proud Dana and Kevin are of each other.
“We feed off each others' accomplishments”, Dana says “We know with perseverance, we will ultimately become who we want to be with one another.”
Kevin and Dana, tied their rings to a horseshoe for good luck and had the rings warmed by all their family before exchanging them later in the ceremony.
Kevin spent the months leading up to the Christmas-time proposal designing a ring he felt represented how he saw Dana. It was the most beautiful ring Dana had ever seen and it didn’t take long for her to decide that it was enough on it’s own--she didn’t want to wear an additional band.
In a ceremony full of symbolism and intention, there were many moments to make a heart swell. One of my favorite moments was in the Remembrance for Dana’s father, where it was announced that Dana planned to honor her late father and new husband by reclaiming her father’s last name and joining it with Kevin’s.
For Dana and Kevin, In Lak’ech Ala k’in means, “you are my other me. If I do you no harm, I do no harm to myself. If I love and respect you, I love and respect myself.” After they return from their honeymoon, they plan on honoring each other and their commitment with tattoos of this beautiful phrase.
“This is a man, who remains positive and committed, no matter how
challenging the circumstance. Whose compassion is endless and whose arms
you find incredible comfort and safety in. In Kevin, you’ve found what
you never knew could exist…”—Alisa Tongg, Celebrant
For a closer look at Dana’s beautiful ring, amazing tattoo artistry and an entire bridal party in cowgirl boots, visit Nicholas Speers Images
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Philly Love Club's inaugural get together, a cocktail party on the third floor of Maggpie Vintage Rentals' very cool warehouse. While messing around in the Love Me Do photo booth (with the most flattering lighting I've ever had pointed in my direction) I finally met in-person Ashley Wrenn-Peterson, the elegant calligrapher and hand-letter artist of hello,bird.
When I told Ashley about our Pop Up Nuptials event and our plan to offer free weddings in celebration of marriage equality in Pennsylvania, she didn't skip a beat before asking how she could help.
Ashley Wrenn-Peterson, top calligrapher at hello,bird
So without further adieu--here it is, hot off the quill--the official Pop Up Nuptials for Pennsylvania poster, created by Ashley.
Kelly and Rich celebrated the start of their married life together surrounded by their immediate family at the stylish and romantic Terrain at Styers in Glenn Mills, PA. True to her bright nature, the bride looked beautiful in a bright pink dress, her favorite color. Kelly also gifted all of the women in the family a pair of brightly colored galoshes for the occasion, a detail that I continued to notice--and each time--it made me smile from deep inside my heart.
Kelly in her bright pink wedding dress.
On their first date, they met at a seafood restaurant in Princeton,
NJ. Kelly remembers an immediate connection as the conversation flowed
easily with Rich. They were the last people to leave the restaurant.
Rich, the crouching tiger.
“Being
with Kelly felt natural”, Rich remembers waking up one morning, and
just knowing that this was it. They were engaged that first year.
Living
and working in two different cities over the past six years, nothing is
taken for granted, “we cherish the time we have together” Kelly shares.
And the time that they do get to spend together has been magical.
Because
of the intimate and private atmosphere of the day, Rich and Kelly
looked to include their family as much as possible when we created their
wedding ceremony. Kelly says, “I couldn’t have taken this step in my
life without my family with me.”
Paying tribute to their close
relationships with their parents and siblings, guests were active
participants and invited to create their Circle of Love, participated in
each blessing the couple’s rings and taking vows to support Kelly and
Rich as they embark on their new path.
Ring Blessing: everyone took turns putting their best wishes, hopes and dreams for the couple and their marriage, into the rings before Kelly + Rich exchanged them.
Inspired by how honey can
keep unspoiled for thousands of years, Rich and Kelly ensured that the
first kiss of their marriage was a sweet one, by dabbing a bit of honey
on the others' lips just before the end of the ceremony.
Kelly + Rich prepare to make the first kiss of their marriage a sweet one, by dabbing honey on each others' lips.
Tahni Candelaria-Holm, of Brooklyn-based Joyeuse Photography captured
so many beautiful moments, scenes and interactions during Rich +
Kelly’s wedding day, it was very difficult to limit the photographs to
share. Here are some more of my favorites:
First Look First Hug
A shoe for any weather. Kelly gave galoshes to all the women in the family.
Kelly wore this bracelet with a special charm that remembered her mother who had passed away.
The rainy day ceremony space at Terrain was dreamy.
Their family gathers around Kelly and Rich to create their ceremonial space.
Paper flower bouquets + colorful galoshes.
Paper flower bouquets form the Circle of Love around Rich + Kelly.
air plants in an indoor living terrarium
Rich + Kelly's ceremony inside a terrarium.
Honey fingers for a honey kiss.
The whole family gathers to celebrate Kelly + Rich.
Kelly's new mother-in-law gives her a pearl necklace while her new husband kisses them on her neck.
Qibao + galoshes. This stylish combination will stay with me always!
(May 29, 2014) In celebration of Pennsylvania’s recognition of marriage equality, wedding industry professionals have come together to provide free wedding ceremonies for couples who desire to make their partnerships legal in the Keystone State. Celebrants Alisa Tongg and Lois Heckman will be officiating the civil wedding ceremonies for free on a first come, first joined in marriage basis, Monday June 9th at the Hotel Fauchere in Milford, PA.
This will be the second pop-up wedding event created by Alisa Tongg. Her first, prompted by her sister’s need to make her marriage legal, was held just days after marriage equality was adopted in New Jersey. Tongg encourages couples to bring their friends and family to witness the “I dos” and offers, “Of course, signing of the marriage license will be a ritual included in each ceremony performed that night. This is a big moment.”
Heckman, who has been officiating weddings since 2004, says “Marriage equality is a core value of mine and to finally have reached this milestone in Pennsylvania is exciting. Being a part of this event just feels right. It is an honor to marry couples who have waited for this moment and deserve all the legal rights that should accompany their commitment to one another. Alisa had a beautiful idea and I'm proud to be a part of it.”
The free wedding celebrations will be hosted at Hotel Fauchere in historic Milford, PA. Sean Strub, community leader, activist and co-owner of the hotel says he “loves the idea” and is excited to have the Hotel Fauchere play a role in celebrating the advancement of marriage equality. The hotel has already commissioned a wedding cake from The Patisserie’s pastry chef, Julie Smith and plans a champagne toast for all the newlyweds to mark the occasion.
Susie Forrester, fine art and wedding photographer will be on hand to capture the heartfelt and historic moments for the participating couples.
Pop-up Nuptials Monday June 9th, 5-7pm Free Civil Ceremonies Officiated by Celebrants Alisa Tongg + Lois Heckman -One Night Only- First come, first joined in marriage Hotel Fauchere 401 Broad Street Milford, PA
ALL couples
invited. Must present a valid PA marriage license.
BYO:
witnesses, vows, glass to stomp, broom to jump or other wedding ceremony
tradition.
Complimentary
wedding cake and champagne toast for the newlyweds.
The American astronomer and astrophysicist, Carl Sagan is known to have said that, “the nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood and the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star stuff.”
For Katherine and Phillip, two self-proclaimed nerds, a wedding under the stars was just the thing. The couple, who first met as freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, exchanged vows at the Fels Planetarium and celebrated the start of their marriage at Philadelphia’s science museum, the Franklin Institute.
Through the course of their relationship, Phillip and Katherine figured out how to pursue their education and career goals, all the while planning on a future together. Katherine says that during those talks about grad school and summers spent apart, “there was never any concern about us not taking the next step together…it was always just going to be and nothing ever made me think differently.”
Their ceremony included a reading of Edward Monton’s A Lovely Love Story, tributes to Mobot racing and romantic days spent meandering through museums, and concluded with seven wishes for the couple under a canopy of shooting stars.
Here’s an excerpt from Katherine + Phillip’s grand celestial finale…
Shooting Stars + Modern Blessings
Among the most spectacular sights of the night sky are shooting stars. Legend has it that wishing upon a shooting star makes the wish come true.
That legend is believed to have originated when Greek astronomer Ptolemy, wrote “the gods would occasionally, out of curiosity in human affairs, peek over the edge of heaven and sometimes, stars would slip out of this gap, becoming visible as shooting or falling stars.
In that instant, since the gods are already looking at us, the rift between their realm and this one is momentarily opened and they can hear anything you say to them. But you have to state your wish out loud while the star is still flying through the sky. Because, when it disappears, the opportunity is lost.”
The proper name for a shooting star is a meteor. A meteor is a tiny piece of space dust that heats up when it hits the Earth’s atmosphere. This collision causes the debris to glow brightly and create a shimmering trail of gases. Surprisingly, shooting stars appear every night, whether or not we make ourselves available to see them.
In an attempt to witness one of the handful of major meteor showers which happen each year, Phillip and Katherine, on more than one occasion, have taken their blankets, cameras and open hearts into a field to watch the night sky.
We can extrapolate lessons about love and marriage from what experts recommend star-gazers do to increase their chances of witnessing this beautiful celestial phenomena. Maybe the legend about why we wish upon stars, gleans it’s advice from this: If we approach our hopes and dreams for the future in the same way we intentionally go out to see a meteor shower—set aside time, prioritize comfort and nourishment with an eye on endurance, seize the moment when the conditions are finally right, keep our hearts open and orient ourselves in the right direction—wishes are fulfilled.
For many, the act of wishing on a star is akin to offering a prayer. And as Phillip and Katherine take your first steps together as a married couple, I offer you these wishes for a blessed life…
"May this couple choose to see beauty in the world around them and find
the courage in their partnership to build and pursue their dreams
together."--Alisa Tongg, Celebrant
"May you be best of friends, with years of happiness as numerous as the stars in the heavens."--Alisa Tongg, Celebrant
Carl Sagan is also known to have said, “For small creatures such as we, the vastness [of the universe] is bearable only through love.” Having found that with Phillip, Katherine says that they “never want to let that go.”
And a special thank you to Simon at The Fels Planetarium, who helped to visually illustrate all of the well wishes friends and family had for Katherine + Phillip as they start their married life together, by arranging the viewing of Henry Jun Wah Lee's breathtaking time lapse video of the 2010 Geminid Meteor Shower from Evosia Studios.
