For every bride who has ever been frazzled by the prospect of planning an event as important as her wedding, imagine, for a moment, what an enormous undertaking it must be to have to plan your affair from half-way across the country in six short weeks. It is a task that Wendy Leger never expected to take on and, yet, welcomed with open arms. Leger and her fiancé, Michael Damato, both of whom reside in Mays Landing, New Jersey, became engaged just six weeks prior to their April 5th wedding debut, days before Michael left to report to basic training in the security force of the international guard for the United States Air Force.
“We decided immediately that we didn’t want to wait to be married,” Wendy says in retrospect. “We wanted to be together.” As a result, the couple scrapped plans to marry in Jamaica in 2004 and quickly began discussing the details of an intimate affair in the city where Michael would be stationed for the first few months of his military career—San Antonio, a place neither of them had ever experienced.
The Preparations
The bride began her wedding day planning as many modern brides do-on the internet- and promptly searched for a consultant in San Antonio that could help make the wedding she envisioned a reality. She soon found Margaret Gavlick, a coordinator with over 20 years of wedding planning experience. Impressed with what other brides and grooms said about working with Margaret, Wendy called her and was won over by her enthusiasm and the suggestions she offered for the upcoming celebration. “She really made me feel at ease and I had every confidence that the day would come together smoothly despite our time crunch,” Wendy said. Leger and Gavlick spent the next few weeks planning and confirming event details by email and long distance phone calls.
Indeed, the time passed quickly and, two days before her celebration, Wendy soon found herself in San Antonio, armed with the absentee affidavit she had been sent by Michael weeks before, making a stop at the Bexar County Courthouse to obtain the marriage license. The following day, the bride was a proud spectator at Michael’s graduation ceremony in which he was acknowledged as an Airman First Class (A1C) with the United States Air Force.
The Ceremony
Though not quite the exotic backdrop they originally envisioned, Wendy and Michael were elated with the day that made them husband and wife. “I’m definitely ready,” Leger had said as she clutched her wedding bouquet, a bundled array of pink magnolias and greenery she made herself.
Gathered under the branches of a sprawling cypress tree, just yards away from the Paseo del Rio, the bride and groom were united in marriage. She was radiant in a sweet ivory strapless gown adorned with appliqués of lace and pearl accents complete with a short train. A sheer ivory shawl surrounded her shoulders and a simple pearl headband served as her crown. Her prince was pressed and polished in his military blues and donned an unmistakable grin from ear to ear.
Their service was led by Reverend Pete Reyna, a non-denominational minister, who began the ceremony with an opening prayer and short reading. Wendy and Michael then followed the Reverend’s words with their own poignant expressions of love selected and written for one another.
“Michael, you are my soulmate,” said Leger. “This truth holds true when the path is clear and lined with roses as well as when the path may be over grown with weeds.” She continued with a poem to Michael—a poem that represented her dedication to him entitled “My Promise of Love to You.”
After Wendy’s heartfelt words, Michael recited selections from scripture and completed his vows by proclaiming to Leger, “Yesterday, I swore an oath to defend my country. Today, I take an oath to be a dedicated and loving husband and a man of honor.”
Fabio Alonso, a fellow graduate and friend of Michael’s, presented the groom with the ring for his bride. After the rings were exchanged, the Reverend pronounced them husband and wife. The couple kissed.
It was, indeed, a short ceremony; likened, perhaps, to the duration of the wedding planning itself. It occurred so quickly, in fact, that five fellow airmen from Michael’s graduation class missed the service when they arrived late. Still, the service had a profound impact on the handful of witnesses who were present to watch the special event. In fact, although few of the wedding guests actually knew the couple, not a dry eye was to be found.
The Reception
Small as it was, the traditions of a grand affair were not lost on this crowd. Michael engaged his comrades in a bout for the garter and Wendy presented everyone with chocolate bridal favors.
After the obligatory wedding photos, the couple, along with their entourage, made their way down the riverwalk to catch a river taxi which was to deliver them to their reception destination, La Mansion, one of the city’s most elegant hotels and home of the fine dining restaurant, Las Canarias. “The cruise was truly one of our favorite moments of our day,” says Wendy. “During our trip, we were cheered by passengers and passersby and were told to kiss under every bridge,” she adds with a smile. “It was truly magical.” In fact, throughout their journey, they were serenaded by a classical guitarist, Greg Reiter, whose musical talent made each kiss that much sweeter.
Upon their arrival at the hotel, the bride and groom were seated with their party, Michael’s fellow cadets from the Air Force base. The group enjoyed a leisurely lunch of scrumptious fare including crab cakes and fillet mignon sandwiches. After their meal, the couple was presented with an exquisite wedding cake, a three-layered beauty slathered in delectable butter cream icing and stuffed with raspberry filling. The cake was decorated with vibrant Gerber daisies and roses and donned the cake topper Wendy had chosen herself, a Precious Moments bride and groom seated on a swan—a piece the couple believed perfectly illustrated their wedding celebration in the river city. As the day drew to a close, the couple made phone calls to their parents announcing their official status as newlyweds. “They were so happy for us,” the couple recalls.
Soon after, reality set in and, several hours after they became husband and wife, Michael and Wendy said their goodbyes to one another for the evening. Michael was due back on base and the couple made plans to meet in the morning. “We spent Sunday together at Lackland [Air Force Base] and enjoyed lunch and a short tour together before I left on my return flight to New Jersey,” says Wendy. “It was very difficult to say goodbye to one another but we knew that we would see one another again soon,” she adds.
The couple expects that Michael will be stationed in Pomona, New Jersey in the 177th Fighter Wing once he completes his technical school requirements this summer. Though still separated during his training, Wendy has returned to San Antonio for weekend visits and the two have grown to love the city where they started their life together.
“The day was truly a fairytale for both of us,” Wendy concludes. “And, San Antonio holds a special place in our hearts forevermore.”
