On Feb. 14, Ms. Smith and Mr. Aspiazu returned to the park to marry. Ms. Smith, in a backless yellow chiffon gown under a winter white wrap, was escorted down a park walkway by Rahul; Mr. Aspiazu, wearing a dark suit with a yellow tie, awaited them with Mr. Jean-Louis, their officiant. Ms. Salvin, Ms. Jean-Louis and another friend, Eliana Vera, were the only in-person guests, but more than 200 well wishers, including Mr. Aspiazu’s parents, Juan Aspiazu and Julieta Garcia, who live in Mexico City, watched with anticipation via livestream.
Before Mr. Jean-Louis, a Universal Life Church minister, cut to the legal part of the ceremony — the day was below freezing, so he kept his remarks brief — he recalled a Valentine’s Day years before.
“Pavel hadn’t seen the light yet, and the valentine Renee wanted was hundreds of miles away,†he said. When he pronounced them married, they lingered over a kiss, holding each other close.
ON THIS DAY
When Feb. 14, 2021
Where Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan
New Horizons Ms. Smith and her son will relocate to Phoenix this month. Ms. Smith plans to find work at a salon rather than continue her mobile service, and Rahul will decide where he wants to finish college. “He wants some time to find his footing there first,†Ms. Smith said.
Behind the Scenes The New York wedding planning company Modern Rebel orchestrated the wedding, with touches including the entertainers Winston and CJay Philip, who provided musical accompaniment and toasted the couple post-wedding. “Be blessed, and be a blessing,†they encouraged online guests before signing off.
Brrrr After their subfreezing wedding, the couple took off for a two-week honeymoon in Maine.
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