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Cutsumbis - McPartland Wedding
Serene, daughter of Tina and Mike (residing in Pennsylvania and Florida), is in the employ of Lehman Brothers, New York City. Dan (son of Betty and Dan formerly of Garden City), is a graduate of St. Anne's, Chaminade, and St. John's University and owner of DGM Incorporated, a residential construction firm. After many adventuresome and exotic trips abroad, Serene and Dan chose the Canadian Rockies as their wedding site in light of its beauty and personal significance. In attendance were sixty-five lifelong friends and family from New York, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Hong Kong. The wedding festivities began Friday evening, with a dinner held in Banff. Early the next day, there was pampering for the wedding party at the Chateau Lake Louise and a luxury liner pick up for guests from the Banff Springs Hotel. By noon on the outdoor patio, in full view of wedding guests and Chateau tourists alike, all were pleasantly surprised to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police honor guard at the side of Dan and Serene, framed by the glacier-coated mountains sweeping down to Lake Louise. The idea to include the RCMPs reflects Serene's attention to detail and thoughtfulness; she had remembered that Dan's great-grandfather (emigrating from Ireland to Banff in the late 1800's), had been an early enlistee to the Mounties, and intuitively knew that this touch would be a special gift for Dan and family. After the ceremony, with guests and tourists eager to hear, the moderating RCMP led discussion on both the history of the Mounties and on Dan's great-grandfather's role from 1885 through 1891. Yet more of Serene's thoughtfulness was to include their nephew Liam Wilson as ring bearer. Cocktail hour followed indoors in the luxurious Larch Lounge. When the reception moved to the Sun Room, Serene, of Greek descent, surprised Dan and family with a polished execution of an Irish reel! Partnered with Dan's cousin Neill (from Co. Cavan, Ireland), Serene stepped with grace, charm, and enthusiasm! Pete O'Hanlon, lifelong friend of Dan's from St. Anne's grammar school and proprietor of "Manor Deli" in Stewart Manor was roused for a solo Irish set dance; the fast, hard, and high steps coming back to him through the years of youth as guests and chateau employees alike urged him on! Not long after Pete's step dance rendition, Serene's brother Stephen led all in traditional Greek dancing. Inspired by Stephen, Eileen McQuaid jumped in for an impromptu duet of a "B-52's" love song. Eileen's brother-in-law Brian McQuaid, best man, recited a poem he wrote in honor of his friendship with Dan and support of Serene and Dan's marriage. He was followed by a reflection from Barbara (Serene's sister), who spoke of the years ago joke in which Dan had correlated his fondness for Harley motorcycles with marriage. Dan's sister Mary eloquently mixed sincerity with humor, quipping: "While most of us may have initially thought 'Why NOT Montauk?' (which had been an early-on wedding venue consideration), we now understand just why we are here in Lake Louise". Dan's Uncle Bob gave a particularly amusing toast, with guests laughing and nodding in agreement! When a solo guitarist began a virtuoso pick of "Danny Boy", Dan's cousin Desi (also from Ireland) felt moved to lead in song, while tears flowed freely by many. It was a most special wedding, with love so evident not only in the bride and groom, but for and amongst the many people who traveled for this very special occasion, including many relatives and longtime friends of the bride and groom's parents. Dan and Serene put forth so much effort and personal touch into their guests' enjoyment, that the wedding staff also enjoyed the occasion, as though invitees. Dan, Serene, and their families feel so very grateful to have each other and are thrilled to merge two fine families with friends extended. They are awed by the cousins, aunts, uncles, friends of parents, and others who made arrangements to provide for children, homes, pets, and busy schedules all left behind in order to show their support and to share in this joyous moment. Those special people who could not make the wedding were there in spirit and remembrance. Short of midnight, the Chateau Lake Louise was exited in exchange for a luxury liner trip which included much song and laughter enroute back to the Banff Springs Hotel (where festivities continued into the early morning). After a late Sunday brunch at the Banff Springs Hotel, guests chose to either play a round of golf, whitewater raft, hike, browse the shops, or take a needed rest. While some returned home early the next week, many chose to stay for an exploratory vacation of the impressive Canadian Rockies. Dan and Serene began their marriage and lifelong adventure headed off on an almost 3 week honeymoon in Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks and are wished all the best from here, 'til death do they part and life thereafter.
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