Posted 2/17/14 – Twenty couples renewed their marriage vows in front of friends and family on Valentine’s Day at Alverno High School’s Villa del sol d’Oro as part of a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre’s International Water Project. Each of the couples paid a fee to participate, and guests paid to attend. Funds raised at the event will go toward sanitation of the water supply for a school in Tanzania.
The couples gathered at the Villa and first, each couple had their photo taken by professional photographer Bella by Mia R. Fernandez, one of the event sponsors. Then they proceeded into the east room where they renewed their vows in a ceremony presided over by officiants Rev. Linda Marshall of Sierra Madre United Methodist Church, Rev. Cynthia Crowell of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Msgr. Richard Krekelberg of St. Rita’s Catholic Church. A brief reception was held following the ceremony that featured a toast of the couples, refreshments, and of course, wedding cake.
Hope you enjoy the photos below the video of the ceremony. As always, click on a thumbnail to view the image larger.
- Couples were greeted by a balloon arch as they arrived
- The very first guests arrive
- Couples begin to arrive
- An Alverno student volunteer helps the photographer adjust her settings
- Rotarian Peggy Beauregard, seated, signed in the couples as they arrived
- Interact student volunteers also greeted the couples
- Russ Walker and his wife Marilyn Diaz renewed their vows after 21 years of marriage
- The backdrop for the ceremony in the east room
- SMPD Chief Larry Giannone and his wife Diane
- Officiants Rev. Cynthia Crowell, Rev. Linda Marshall and Msgr. Richard Krekelberg
- Couples wait for the ceremony to begin
- Interact volunteers that assisted with the ceremony
- More guests
- Couples celebrate immediately after the end of the ceremony
- Ditto
- St. Rita couples pose with Msgr. Krekelberg
- Another happy couple
- The cake
- Let’s have a toast!
- Evie and Jerry Gallardo enjoy a post-ceremony piece of cake