Heather and Susan’s Central Park Elopement
Photographer: Nikki DeNueva • Officiant: Once Upon A Vow • Location: Ladies Pavilion, Central Park • Featured in Offbeat Wed
Heather and Susan were married on a perfect spring day on May 23rd, 2023 at the iconic Ladies Pavilion in Central Park with just a couple of their closest loved ones. They chose to celebrate their journey with our fully-personalized Intimate Love wedding ceremony experience, which highlighted their out-of-this-world Trekkie connection across the world wide web. While they were 4,291 miles apart, their love knew no bounds and their ceremony reflected the beauty of “reuniting with a long lost love from a past life.”
As Heather and Sue discussed their wedding ceremony vision, they decided that it was important to include a moment of remembrance to honor the life of Sue’s dearly departed mom. They also chose to include a reading by e.e. cummings and Star Trek inspired vows from Tom and B’Elanna’s wedding. Here’s an excerpt of the Moment of Remembrance:
“It is, therefore, with profound love and admiration for the woman who gave you life, Sue - mum to the one about to become your wife, Heather - that we celebrate the life of Mercedes and welcome her into this JOYFUL moment in YOUR lives.
Sue, you already know that your mom is here with you, like she’s always been and like she’ll always be, because she is forever in your heart. After all, she’s quite literally a part of who you are as you are a part of her!
And as you both tell it, she's already reached through the veil and made her presence known. In her own way, she's made clear that she’s happy you’ve found each other and happy to have helped guide you to this here and now.
This moment of remembrance is a tribute to the legacy of love Mercedes passed on to you, Sue - one she wants you to live up to with Heather, by simply being who you are and by doing “what makes your heart happy.”
Their love story was the core of their wedding ceremony and since they virtually met on Twitter thanks to Sue’s witty and profound post in the Star Trek fandom world they both orbited, they wanted to make sure to include Star Trek inspired wedding vows as a nod to their early beginnings. Here’s an excerpt of their wedding ceremony and their Trekkie wedding vows:
“Sue. Heather. Today, on the 22-year anniversary of the season finale of StarTrek Voyager, you two set course on your own voyage of a lifetime. Except instead of battling enemies in Delta Quadrant, as part of the UNITED FEDERATION of 21st century LOVE WARRIORS, you two are on your way back to the Alpha Quadrant- HOME - the land of all things good - where love blooms without constraint.
Sue, “I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, but whatever it is, I’ll try to keep doing it. I promise to stand by you - to honor you ‘til death do us part. May this ring be a symbol of our eternal love.”
Heather, “you stood by me when most people would have run for the nearest airlock. You were willing to see past my shortcomings and to take all the bumps and bruises that came along with it. You made me a better person even though I put up one hell of a fight. I look forward to our journey together. May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love.”
Congratulations, Heather and Sue! Live long and prosper.