1.8.15
We’d been talking about getting married while I was visiting over the Christmas/New Year holidays. In the morning of January 8, 2015 and on a whim, we thought we’d ask our mutual friend Otmar to be our witness. He was the person who introduced us at Burning Man in 2012. He was driving to the Bay Area and was planning to arrive in time for Thursday beer night – that night! We were hoping he’d say yes in order for us to say yes on Friday.
When we called to see if there was a time slot available to get married at the Marin County Civic Center there was nothing available for Friday. We were a little disappointed but decided to call back to see if they had anything available for Thursday. There was one slot available at 2pm! *gulp* Today!! It was around 11am at this point and Will was on a conference call. I slipped a sticky note in front of him, laid out some wedding-ish clothes for myself & took a shower. When I came down to check on Will he had his head in his hands. Um… he said we’d better find a witness!
I started calling, texting and emailing immediately. We got him dressed while he was on another conference call. Our friend Mary came through as our witness and showed up with champagne. We hit up the natural grocer on the way out of town to put together a bouquet for me. The florist said I was her second eloping person that day.
As we pulled into the parking lot Will’s best friend John called to see if it was too late to make it to the wedding. I told him we still had an hour. We went into the crazy, gorgeous building and started our paperwork for the marriage license then walked across the hallway to get married in the garden just outside of the cafeteria. Perfect weather. John and his wife Renata made it just in time.
It was a short but sweet ceremony. The only thing I remember is Will’s sweet face. He looked into my eyes the whole time as we repeated our vows and I never felt safer or more sure of the choice I had made.
Took lots of great pictures. Sipped some champagne. Then we had a celebratory Puerto Rican meal in the town of San Rafael before heading back to Berkeley for beer night. Thank you Mary, John & Renata for sharing our day!
We definitely surprised the beer gang when we showed up in our “wedding clothes” and my bouquet in hand. It took a little while before everyone figured it out and we got to celebrate again.
So now we want to celebrate yet again with our friends and family.
Receptions #1 and #2
Our first reception (Monkeybutt) was June 27, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. It was a potluck affair with VW Buses, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, a photo booth, live music and funky playlists.
Our second celebration (Monkeybutt II – Electric Boogaloo) will be on January 9, 2016 – just one day after our 1 year anniversary – in West Oakland. As we get the details figured out, we’ll share it with you. Keep an eye on the site!
Love to all.
Paige & Will