As a Wedding Officiant, I’ve witnessed all kinds of beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable moments. But every once in a while, a wedding day throws a curveball no one could have predicted. That’s exactly what happened today.

The venue - Maison De Veaux, was beautifully decorated, the guests were seated, I was lined up along with the wedding party and love was in the air. Everything was running smoothly - until suddenly, it wasn’t. Just moments before the ceremony was set to begin, I hear the wedding planner, Howard Moseley of Coordinating Miracles say, “he’s about to pass out.” In a matter of minutes an older gentleman was brought from his seat to an open area at the venue, barely responsive and breathing heavy. It was determined he was not diabetic but overheated. A bag of ice was placed on his chest to help cool him down and EMS was called as a precaution. With concern for the gentleman, and for a moment, everything came to a standstill.

But here’s the part that truly stood out to me: Howard didn’t miss a beat. I watched him the entire time and he handled the situation professionally, with calm confidence, and was never flustered. As the gentleman became more responsive and with EMS on the way, we resumed our positions in line and the wedding started.

Weddings are about love, yes. But they’re also about community. To Howard who led with poise and confidence - you made this day memorable in all of the right ways.