April 17, 1999.
Giovanni holds Mindy's
hand after placing her wedding ring on her finger.
Mindy and Giovanni met in Japan in 1995 when they were both teaching English, Mindy as part of the JET program and Giovanni as part of OSET. They were together there for 2 years before Giovanni returned to the States. After enduring a VERY long distance relationship for over a year, Mindy joined Giovanni in San Francisco. They got engaged February 2 and decided to wed April 17 since they knew that family and friends could fly in from all over Canada and the US for that date. None of us would have missed it!
Mindy and Giovanni
exchange vows in Alamo Square, San Francisco.
Because so many people lived away from them, Mindy and Giovanni planned for a small, intimate ceremony and reception. They wrote their own vows and the ceremony was simple and non-denominational. They picked a perfect setting for it -- Alamo Square has a great view of Downtown San Francisco with a row of Victorian homes in front. The reception was held a couple of blocks away in the Alamo Square Grill restaurant. Everything was close and convenient, and everyone enjoyed traveling together in a "wedding pack".
Mindy arriving at Alamo
Square
looking like a movie star!
Mindy really put a lot of thought into the setting of the wedding and it worked out perfectly. Because everything was so close, the girls, (Mindy, Mary and Lynda) were able to walk to Mindy's nail appointment in the morning, walk over to Abir's for a tasty lunch before walking back to the apartment to get ready. It was actually very relaxing. We had been worried that it might be a little hot for the wedding -- it had been very hot the day before, but the weather was just right and although the wind didn't die away, it wasn't too bad. Steffani took us all to Alamo Square in her car (we could've walked, but who wants to do that in heels in San Francisco if you don't have to?) and we found parking right away. It certainly seemed as if the gods were smiling on this union!
The wedding was set to begin at 5:30 pm on April 17 and we arrived at the park just at 5:30. Upon arrival, everything was ready and because of the number of guests, we were all able to take part in the "wedding march". We were spaced out down the hill to the celebrant, Lenna, and just joined arms with the rest of the party as they came along side us. When we reached the celebrant, Mindy and Giovanni stepped forward and we closed around in a semi-circle and the wedding began. Mindy and Giovanni's friend Leanne had sent a lovely letter from Japan which Lynda read and after that they recited their vows. Hearing two people pledge their love and commitment to each other using their own words is very powerful, personal and moving. It was really quite magical watching two people getting married with just their closest friends and family there to celebrate with them.
Mindy slips Giovanni's
wedding ring on his finger.
You can see the shadows
of the semi-circle of guests around them.
After the wedding we stopped to get some pictures of Mindy and Giovanni and everyone else! The wind was picking up a little though, so there was some incentive to wrap it up and go for dinner. Mindy and Giovanni were startled to see a young sheepdog running around the park just after the wedding -- when Mindy was little her family had a sheepdog named Crumpet whom she loved very much, while Giovanni grew up with a much loved family sheepdog named Muffin! It almost seemed as if they came back in spirit to bless the wedding!
The Newlyweds just after
the ceremony in Alamo Square
Everyone at the Wedding
(L-R): Lynda, Dennis, Lyn, Lenna, Kay, Steffani, Giovanni, Mindy,
Chris, Ron, Eva, Phil,
Heather, MaryLynn, Rhys, Leslie, Melanie, and Mary.
After a few more pictures, it was getting cool and past time to head over to the restaurant. Everyone walked over together and arrived to find beautifully decorated tables thanks to Steffani, Mary and Mindy's Mom, Melanie. The tables were decorated with flowers, floating candles, and 'just married' sprinkles. Mindy had made place cards that were envelopes embossed with a dragonfly and the person's name on a little envelope. Inside the envelope was a little card with a quote about love on the front and a special message on the back. It was a very nice personal touch. There was also a japanese style candle stand and scented candle at each person's place and a small gift bag with a Ghiardelli chocolate bar in it. It made a perfect receptacle for the candles for everyone to take them home.
The tables that Melanie,
Mary & Steffani decorated for the reception.
You can see the dragonfly
place cards, candles and flowers.
The dinner was wonderful, if you are going to San Francisco you really must try the food at the Alamo Square Grill. We all had a wonderful time talking, eating, toasting the newlyweds and getting them to kiss! Dennis had brought cigars, affording everyone an opportunity to go outside for a smoke after the meal. The cake was made by the restaurant and was a delicious strawberry shortcake. It was inscribed with "Power of Two" which Mindy and Giovanni have adopted as a theme in their relationship -- it's taken from a great Indigo Girls song of the same name.
