Carla and Cathy’s wedding, held on July 20th, 2024, was nothing short of extraordinary. The ceremony took place at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.—a church with deep roots in the LGBTQ+ community, and you could feel that history and pride in every corner. The architecture and stained-glass windows told stories of resilience and love, creating the perfect backdrop for Carla and Cathy’s special day.
The ceremony itself was a reunion of sorts for their families, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in a long time. And let’s talk about the ministers—two of their best friends were the officiants. One of them, who was licensed to marry them, had to drive all the way down from Maine because of national flight outages. Her determination to be there showed just how much their friendship meant.
One of the most touching parts of the ceremony was the stone ceremony. Family members were handed black stones, which they placed on a table alongside photos of deceased relatives. It was a quiet yet powerful moment, remembering those who had passed but were still a big part of the day. And then, the dancers arrived—dressed in flowing white, they performed a stunning dance that felt like a union of the couple’s love with the blessings of their ancestors.
But what really made this wedding stand out? Instead of a typical first dance, Cathy surprised Carla by singing to her while they sat on the dance floor. It was such a raw, personal moment, and everyone in the room could feel the love. Then, that led into one of the most fun and energetic dance floors I’ve ever seen! Rainbow flags were flying, fans were out, and the LGBTQ+ community present brought so much color, life, and love to the celebration. It was a true celebration of who Carla and Cathy are, and the joy of everyone there was just contagious.
The reception, held at the National Press Club, was the perfect continuation of this love-filled day, with friends, family, and chosen family coming together to honor Carla and Cathy’s union. The whole day felt like a vibrant, joyful affirmation of love and pride.
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