#388 Real Wedding Retrospective: Radical & Revolutionary Love

This united and strong couple, reflect on their wedding journey, highlighting the significance of their union in the context of same-sex and interracial marriage only being legal in the U.S. since 2015 and 1967, respectively. 

Emphasizing their commitment to what was important to them, they share how they navigated the complexities of family dynamics while maintaining clear boundaries. Their positive outlook and resilience shone through as they tackled wedding day snags with professionalism and grace. Melissa speaks passionately about how their queer love is both radical and revolutionary, underlining the historic and personal importance of their marriage.

Topics We Covered

• Strategies for Curating the Guest List
• The Role of Community Commitment in Shaping Their Wedding
• Crafting Personalized Wedding Vows
• Avoiding the Pitfall of Over-Focusing on Minor Details
• Managing Family Pressure for Unwanted Wedding Elements
• Maintaining Focus Throughout the Wedding Planning Process
• Key Components to Incorporate into a Ceremony Script
• Handling Technical Issues During the Event

About Our Guests

Karissa Sullivan is an Assistant Principal at Ramapo High School with two Masters degrees and currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University. She's been in the education field since her early career, starting as a teacher before earning her advanced degrees.

When she's not shaping young minds, Karissa's all about family life. She's a loving sister, daughter, and aunt, and together with her wife, they're working on growing their family, which includes their two furry companions, right in the heart of Nyack, NY and a ton of plants. She's actively involved in her community, serving on the BIPOC Advisory Board for the Phyllis B. Frank Rockland County Pride Center, and is also a charter member and Treasurer of the Black School Educators of Rockland County. Karissa's dedication extends to her role as the inaugural Grand Marshal of the 2023 Rockland County Pride Parade, making her a true advocate and leader in her community.

Melissa Sullivan is a proud Brooklynite with over two decades of experience championing youth development, racial justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, social justice and nonprofit leadership. Currently she’s the Executive Director at PFLAG NYC, where she’s all about making NYC more LGBTQ+ friendly. When she's not changing the world, you'll find her assisting start-up nonprofits, volunteering, reading a lot, and embarking on the journey of expanding her family with her wife and two adorable pups in Nyack, NY. She’s a proud sister, adoptive mom of an adult daughter, Godmom to four super cool kids, and an aunt. 

Links We Referenced

Ceremony Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJxFCq3Tqe2PSraGjdv69oZs_YOAX-DQHq1k73GWFpo/edit?usp=sharing

Wedding Coordination and Florals: @luxuryeventcollective 

Photography/videography/Photo Booth/lighting: @stateoftheartvisuals and @societyofthearts 

DJ: @djcoolee

Hair and Makeup: @thekeylookllc

@humblehands314 

Wedding Cake: @bakerman1727 

Rehearsal Dinner Event Space and Bartending: @xhousenyack 

Rehearsal Dinner catering: @cravinjamaicancuisine     

Wedding Officiant: Reverend Tabatha Holley @revfemmeblaqity 

Dog day care: @papawsdoghouse

Wedding Dress: @bridesbyyoung 

Wedding Suit: @bindleandkeep

NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/style/melissa-dandrea-karissa-sullivan-we

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez

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