All posts by romicortier@yahoo.com

Our Rehearsal Dinner on the Grand Canal

 

My idea for our rehearsal dinner on the Grand Canal  started out as a simple meet and greet kind of concept.  Something casual,  low key,  and intimate.  A place where our guests could break the ice and get to know each other,  before we were married the following day. However,  things didn’t quite go in that direction.

Mandy Forrester-Jones
Mandy Forrester-Jones, Viva Travel, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Ca.

Our wedding planner from Australia, Mandi Forrester-Jones of Viva Travel, was coming to LA for a few days on her way home from Italy.  It was the perfect opportunity to get together for dinner, and to discuss  how the plans were coming along.  Besides working on travel accommodations for our guests, she was also working to help us find a small venue where we could  have pizza and gelato near the waters edge. After weeks of emailing and contacting several small cafes, the options just weren’t coming together. It was either going to be a long  walk from our hotel, or a venue  packed with lots of tourists.  It just didn’t feel right, so she suggested that I check with our hotel to see what options they might have.

Simona Miranda
Recio Young, Simona Miranda, Romi Cortier, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
#RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

I reached out to Simona Miranda, our event coordinator at the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal. We’d had our initial interview with her during Christmas of 2018, while scouting wedding venues. We loved her, and we loved the venue, which is how we’d gotten this far. I emailed  Simona about the idea of a cocktail party on the terrace. Time was running out, as there were only six weeks left until the wedding. After a few emails back and forth we decided that it was a go.  She quoted me a price per person, gave me some food options, and then asked if I’d like a printed menu… a printed menu? for a cocktail party? Sure, why not.

Terrace
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

I think something got lost in translation. When I arrived on the terrace about 20 minutes before the party, I was surprised to see a sit down event. It was complete with tables and tablecloths, candles,  wine glasses, and a full wait staff ready to attend to our every need.  And of course,  there were those fabulous little  menus, placed gently on the plates, along with the cocktail napkins I’d designed for the cocktail hour.

Ms. Taylor
Ms. Taylor and Recio Young, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Ms. Natalie Marletta
Romi Cortier and Ms. Natalie Marletta, Hotel Monaco & Grand Hotel, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Our guests began to arrive, all 35 of them. They were thrilled at the elaborate layout,  as they too expected a simple cocktail hour.  It was turning into the perfect Venetian evening.  Glowing guests, a balmy 75 degrees, the full moon reflecting across the lagoon… you could feel the magic in the making.

Ms. Davis
Recio Young, Ms. Davis and Romi Cortier, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Guest Arriving
Romi Cortier, Recio Young and Ms. Ibay, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
The Youngs
Ms. Young and Isaiah Young, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Everyone was so excited to finally meet the people whose faces they’d  only seen on social media. Friends from Fiji and Australia got to meet our families from Chicago and Seattle. Our friends from Texas were introduced to friends from San Francisco. The wine was flowing, as trays and trays of appetizers glided onto the tables.

The Sisters
Ms. Bigelow, Ms. Puckett and Recio Young, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Jud Nichols
Recio Young, Jud Nichols and Romi Cortier, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Dinner entrees included a course of 3 types of spaghetti: vegetarian, seafood and beef, all  made with the freshest Italian pasta. The flow of food and delicacies lasted for at least three hours and included  an assortment of deserts, cappuccino and did I mention, more wine?

The Ladies
Ms. Chan, Ms. Harville, Ms. Forgue, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

True to form,  Recio gave one of his epic toasts. He always knows the right emotional tone to hit. He’s generous in his praise of people, thanks to his astute observations of who they are. He makes friends for life and wants to see everyone become their best selves, and live their best life.

The Toast
Romi Cortier, Recio Young and Guests, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

What started out as an idea for a casual evening of pizza and gelato, turned into the most amazing 5 hour evening of love, laughter, and celebration. It’s an evening we’ve come to value even more during this time of Covid, because in the end, Love Wins.

Romi & Recio
Romi Cortier and Recio, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

 

Mandy Forrester- Jones can be reached at Viva Travel

Simona Miranda can be reached at   VIP Service Italia 

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk was the perfect backdrop for our wedding photos. After our nuptials in the Ridotto Ballroom, we hopped in a private boat with our crew of photographers, and sped across the famed lagoon.

Venice Lagoon
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venice Lagoon, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The 16th-century Benedictine church, a basilica in the classical Renaissance style,  can be seen from the gondola lined shores of San Marco. Its gleaming white marble has inspired artists for centuries. Think Claude Monet,  Canaletto, and Francesco Guardi.  Each of them have created  multiple paintings capturing the magical and ever changing light in Venice.

San Giorgio Maggiore
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

This Palladian landmark was designed by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Begun in 1566, it took nearly 50 years to complete. Palladio was inspired by the formal classical temples of the ancient Greeks and Romans, focusing on symmetry. He adhered to the principles of classical Roman architecture, based on mathematical proportions and an absence of rich ornamentation.

The Basilica
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Steps
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
The Rings
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy Photo Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The first church on this island was built in 790.  In 982 the island was given to the Benedictine order by Doge Tribuno Memmo. The Benedictines founded a monastery there, however, all of the buildings were destroyed by an earthquake in 1223. The church and monastery were rebuilt after the earthquake.

Kneeling
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

In the photo above, you can see the Doges Palace on the shores of San Marco, as seen from the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The water ways have been an essential part of Venice’s history. The 11th century was Venice’s first golden age of maritime power, reaching its peak in the 17th century with nearly 190,00 citizens.  By the 18th Century, all of that had changed.  1797 marked the Fall of the Republic of Venice at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte and Habsburg Austria.

Holding Hands
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

It’s difficult to comprehend a civilized island with a 1300 year history… but here we are. We are beyond thrilled and blessed to have experience  such a beautiful  moment in the long arch of history in Venice.

Yacht
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Dusk at San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Until we meet again dear Venice…

Silhouette
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venice Lagoon, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Not Just Any Gay Wedding…

When is a gay wedding more than just a gay wedding? When your husband to be has had a 30 year dream of getting married in Venice, Italy since the age of 11.  Love means you’ll do just about anything to make it happen. After all,  isn’t that what love is about, making your fiancés  dreams come true. Our worldly guest list included friends from Chicago, Texas, Washington, California, Fiji and Australia. Yes our peeps flew half way around the world for us. #Blessed 

After our glorious nuptials under the baroque fresco, we wanted to give our guests a fun photo op while the Ridotto Ballroom was being redressed for dinner.  We’d designed our own step and repeat and had it installed in the adjoining Crozzola room. We added a prop table that included an assortment of Venetian masks and Chinese fans. ‘Dynasty poses’ are something we adore doing in our photo ops. Strike a pose, throw in a little attitude, and viola! 

Step and Repeat
David Stanko and Ms. Ibay, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
First Lady of Fiji
First Lady of Fiji Natalie Marletta and Husband Ben Tedrick, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Step and Repeat
Mr. & Mrs. Forgue, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Step and Repeat
Mr. & Mrs. Rod Lee, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
The Taylors
Mr. & Mrs. Taylor, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Step and Repeat
Ms. Davis, Ms. Bigelow, Mrs. Bigelow, Mrs. Puckett, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Step and Repeat
Ms. Beyne, Mrs. Beyne, Ms. Chan, Romi Cortier, Recio Young, Ms. Reyes, Ms. Harville, Ms. Davis, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Once the Ridotto was reset, our guests flooded back in, found their tables, and prepared for the continuation of the festivities. Recio and I burst into spontaneous dance as we re- entered the ballroom and made our way to our table.  Recio decided to throw in a little twerking,  and our guests went wild.

As the evening progressed We had many of the traditional moments.  Our first dance, speeches from our best men,  our personal speeches, a champagne toast, and the cutting of the cake.

First Date
Romi Cortier, Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Best Man
Isaiah Young, Romi Cortier, Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
The Best Man
Best man David Stanko, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The cutting of the cake was a moment that we couldn’t wait to share with our guests, because we had a little surprise in store for them. We, yes Recio and I, were the cake topper. My best man David Stanko had taken us to Doob 3D as a wedding gift. In their photo studio we held a pose in a round room, filled with 75 cameras. A single flash gave them a digital 3D file. Six weeks later we received our little statue in the mail. It was a total show stopper!! After the big reveal our guests were jockeying to take photos of it, especially  with the two of us standing behind it. Even the Hotel staff lost their minds when they pulled it out of the box… I’d forgotten to mention that it was literally ‘us’ as the cake topper. Thank you David for one of the best moments of the evening, and for helping us make this a spectacular gay wedding.

The Cake
Romi Cortier, Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Cake Topper
Recio Young, Romi Cortier, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Cake Topper
Cake Topper, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal

Here’s the moment we danced into the ballroom. A huge thank you to our camera man Andrea Rizzo for creating this fantastic video.

 

Our Marriage in the Ridotto Ballroom

Well… our moment has arrived. After nine months of planning,  it’s finally  time to enter the Ridotto Ballroom and join our hands in marriage. We ascend the stairs and join our families.  Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major plays, as we’re escorted to the stage, me by my  aunt and Recio by his mom.

Making an Entrance
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Walking
Ms.Bigelow and Romi Cortier, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Recio's Mom
Ms. Young and Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

We join our guests under the baroque fresco with our celebrant, Fabio Moresco. We’re joined on stage by my two sisters, and my best man, David Stanko. Recio’s son Isaiah is his best man, and his brothers Evan, Dillan and Jonathan are his groomsmen.

Ceremony
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Wedding Ceremony, Ridotto Ballroom, Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Fabio greets our guests and begins our ceremony: This meeting and this love are what bring us together today. The uniting of these two friends to establish a new family is an important and memorable event. It brings together two separate families and backgrounds and creates a union that is a sign of hope in the midst of a troubled society. 

Celebrant
Celebrant Fabio Moresco, Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Traditionally, the passage to the status of married couple is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are symbols of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. 

The Ring
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

And now, Romi and Recio have declared before all of us that they will live together in marriage. They have made special promises to each other. They have symbolized it by joining hands, taking vows, exchanging rings and by signing their wedding certificate.

Handshake
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

By the authority vested in me by the State of ITALY, I now pronounce that you are HUSBAND and HUSBAND. You may kiss each other!

The Kiss
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The room explodes in applause and we exit the stage to our favorite song… the DYNASTY theme song. There may have been a few laughs too.

Victorious
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

We are so grateful to all of our friends and family who traveled half way around the world to join us, bearing  witness to our nuptials. As it turns out, our wedding was the first gay wedding held  in the Ridotto Ballroom. As I mentioned earlier, this was the first casino in all of Europe where famed ladies man Casanova gambled and smoked opium with courtesans, before being tossed into jail for not paying his gambling debts. It was was also the seat of the French embassy after being conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, and lastly a glamorous  ballroom during the Austrian Empire.  Therefore, we were a historic wedding, in a historic space. Love wins is not just a hashtag, but a way of being. Thank you Venice for treating us so beautifully and making us feel like family. You will forever be in our hearts.

Wedding Party
Ms. Bigelow, Ms. Puckett, David Stanko, Romi Cortier, Fabio Moresco, Recio Young, Isaiah Young, Evan Beyne, Dillan Beyne and Jonathan Brewster, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Satin Dresses
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal

Our Wedding Photos at Piazza San Marco

Our 8 hour wedding event began with a 30 minute gondola ride before arriving in Piazza San Marco. Our gondolier took us out into the Grand Canal, passing by the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture built in 1687. We turned onto a smaller canal enjoying the tranquility of the nearly empty canals before arriving back at the Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal. It was our private time to reconnect, to get centered, and to remind ourselves to stay in the moment. We wanted to be present and  take in all of the beauty that was about to unfold.

Grand Canal
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Venice Canal
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venice Canal, Italy,    #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
Gondola
Romi Cortier and Recio, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Once on solid ground we walked over to the Piazza San Marco, mixing with the tourists on the street. Everyone around us could feel the excitement and the magic… because these bespoke chinoiserie tuxedos weren’t about to be ignored.

Venice Stroll
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

We stopped in front of the Good Luck Centurion… because  it’s good luck to touch his belly.

Crest
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venetian Crest, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

From there we entered the famed Piazza. Walking hand in hand took on a new meaning as we passed by tourists. Some smiled and waved, some took photos, and some seemed a bit startled. This little square draws people from all around the world… I had to wonder, was gay marriage legal where they were from? In that moment, I realized that we were making a political statement. A huge statement. So much larger than I’d ever imagined. I wasn’t trying to be a political activist, just a guy marrying the guy he loves. So I held his hand a little tighter, and was grateful for this extraordinary opportunity.

Piazza San Marco
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

We paused in front of the Doge’s Palace to take in the beautiful views of the Lagoon. It was the perfect mid September day, not to hot and not to cold. The iconic gothic details date back to 1340 and are recognized around the world. I feel so lucky that we could have this beautiful moment in front of it, becoming apart of its nearly 700 years of history.

Doge's Palace
Recio Young and Romi Cortier, Doge’s Palace, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding
The Hug
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

We stole a kiss  in front St. Mark’s Basilica, the Italio-Byzantine church we’d visited months earlier for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.  The gold mosaic ceilings inside are beyond breathtaking.

The Kiss
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy, #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The opulent lace like arches with their gold hues, look a bit like a crown in this photo. I know we certainly felt like royalty on this day. Once we were finished in Piazza San Marco, we headed over to the Ridotto Ballroom to begin our fairytale wedding…

Saint Mark's Basilica
Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy,  Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

 

One of our wedding photographers, Andrea Rizzo, created this stunning video of the empty streets and canals of Venice, during initial lockdown due to Covid19. We hope you’ll watch it, it’s breathtakingly beautiful.