Photo by Rose Apodaca

Once everyone was seated and buzzing after the resonant Wedding March, and the handing over of the soon to be bride, Joe Sola began his 'Sermon,' which was welcoming, respectful and warm. He is so at home with performing and orating that he made it look easy, as graceful as Cary Grant making a martini...until...he stated he would at this point like to talk about a few things before they go on...so he leaves the fireplace and positions himself in front of an easel and a pad of paper next to a small table with a pitcher of water and a glass on it. As he flipped the page to reveal the first of many pie charts, there was a chuckle from the congregation. I was rivited. The charts pictured statistics about married couples, the percentages of which experience troubles in various categories, like home repair, or television watching. There were serious topics covered in the charts, but his delivery, and intermingling of humor struck the perfect balance. He then took a very very long sip of water, which confused some and created an eerie quiet.

It was then that something happened, a kerfuffle commenced as he caught his pants on the easel and began to fall grabbing at the table as he fell.

The pitcher and the glass went flying and crashed and shattered as Joe tumbled into the isle. My father, a doctor by trade, but a man of many hats, had a look of panic on his face and began to rush forward to help Joe. I put out my arm to block him and whispered that it was all planned. It took Dad a minute to process, but then he became more than amused and started filming everything. Joe picked himself up and eased right into talking about how life will present you with little disasters, but that being together, remaining open and true, that Bec and Ruben will not become any statistic. It was such an elegant accident, surprising, shocking even, but then wrapped up so succinctly and most importantly, with a positive message. It far exceeded my idea of what his presentation would emit. That certainly livened the room.

photos by Tyler Hubby

Joe's statement when asked about what he wanted to say about the piece he did for Get Hubbied: "Love"

What followed were the vows led by Joe, and the ring exchange which brought everyone back to focus on the couple and their union. The ring box was opened to reveal the twig inside wearing the two rings on it's branches. William Stone created it out of a fallen branch - the knot of the branch became the lid, holding inside the circular symbols of tying the knot.

photos by Tyler Hubby

photo by Bettina Hubby

Over the mantle were the portraits of Bec and Ruben painted by Abel Gutierrez; the images were taken from pictures of them in their teen years, well before they met. It was ponient to see images of them from the past in front of the present, promising each other a future together. Also mysterious and surreal, since the image he picked of Ruben is from a carnival where he's picking up a deflated set of barbells, and the one of Bec looks almost exactly the same as she looks now, both painted in the same gray blue pallet to enjoin the images.

"Based on two very different photographs from their youth, this diptych was created to consider Bec and Ruben's histories, commonalities, and identities both as individuals and as a couple."
~Abel

photo by Tyler Hubby

Joe turned the mic to me and I welcomed and appreciated everyone, asking them to turn their attention to the word on a circle of Mylar in front of them. I knew that if I'd spoken the words I wanted to speak to Bec, Ruben, their parents, my parents, my friends, Tif, etc., for all their faith, trust and open-mindedness, that my waterproof mascara certainly would have been tested. So I wrote those thoughts and split them up into singular words so that each guest, in succession, around the tables and through the room, would speak them for me. I think everyone had fun with that way of orating and the 'poem' of sorts ended with Ronnie standing up and projecting the last word with gusto. And to me, it was the crowd, these friends, these families and artists, the couple themselves...this is what made this project happen, they were the ones responsible for allowing me to fulfill this vision.