For Better, For Worse
Informal wedding ideal for couple
By Mark and Michelle Cabalse
Mark writes about planning the wedding:
March 10, 2001, was the most important day in our lives, a moment in time I made absolutely sure we would never forgetæ— our wedding day!
Unbeknownst to the most important person in my life, I had taken on the nerve-racking task of secretly planning that special day. At the time, I was financially strapped, so my options were limited. But it didn't worry me much. I knew in my heart exactly what I wanted to do, and it wouldn't take much money to do it. I wanted to marry the woman I Iove in the most sacred place I know.
On the North Shore of O'ahu is a very special place that I hold dear to my heart. It is an area known to few outside of the surfing community, called Velzyland, or simply V-land. I spent the majority of my high school days there, night diving the grounds with friends or just kicking back with some sudz. It was a place of refuge for me, and it soon became a place of refuge for my wife.
I can remember the first time I brought her there. It was early evening and the sun was about set. We had stretched out our blanket, and I had my sweetheart in my arms. We watched the sunset, and soon the moon began to rise above the mountains. This is the place we had set our wedding date and shared some very special moments.
So without thinking twice, I had decided to surprise her by having our wedding there. I planned a very small, simple ceremony. Our guest list included a few close friends and family. The wedding attire was aloha wear with slippas included, because that's what made us happy.æ
Michelle writesæabout the wedding day:
One thing I can say about our wedding is that it truly was ours. Our day, our way. Forget what's "expected." Forget what we are "supposed" to do. Forget traditions.
The only ounce of tradition in our wedding appeared purely by chance.æAs the old saying goes, "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." We both wore blue; I borrowed a dress from a good friend; our wedding rings were new; and I joked with my husband that he was the "old" part.
We laughed out loud as we rounded the cliff at Waimea Bay en route to V-land. The week had been rainy, so we prayed the clear skies would last past sunset. That was our only worry, and we liked it that way. We met the minister and headed down to the beach with our tiny entourage. As we said our vows, a wave washed over our feet. Mark smiled and hugged me, saying the ocean had reached out to touch us all.
We walked up to the grassy hill above to start celebrating. Before we reached the hill, a light rain fell from the sky and stopped a moment later. The Hawaiian blessing we had hoped for came true. That sparked an energy that set the party mood on high.
Suddenly I heard a shout from an Auntie on the beach as she rushed toward the hill. She had been collecting shells on the beach for people to take as a memoir of our wedding. As she opened her hand full of white, smooth coral I noticed distinct shapes of each piece. One looked like an "L," one an "O" a "V" and an "E." It was all the assurance these newlyweds needed.
The happy couple writesæabout the wedding experience:
Mark: You don't have to be a rich man to marry the woman you love.
Michelle: A big, formal wedding has no bearing on the amount of love in a marriage. What we most want to tell other couples is that the formalities of a wedding really don't matter. What matters is that you love each other, and your wedding will be the most memorable day in both of your lives.
Mark Cabalse and Michelle Cournoyer were married on March 10, 2001, on the North Shore of O'ahu.
