Travelin' with Eileen Cecille
Monona Terrace weddings
Monona Terrace weddings
By Eileen Cecille Hocker
Welcome back to my travelogue of affordable trips and adventures. For this one, I didn’t go far at all. In fact, I got a “two-fer” as I witnessed
a snapshot of multicultural Madison while venturing right in our own backyard of the Monona Terrace.
Monona Terrace Wednesday (August 31, 2009)
It was a bright and breezy summer day. Although the end of August, it turned out to be a new beginning for three unique couples in Madison,
who intersected each other on the rooftop of the beautiful Monona Terrace.
It all started when I decided to go there for an afternoon walk. As I arrived onto the Terrace I walked by a handful of people and then
suddenly realized this was some sort of marriage ceremony. There was an African brother gently holding the hands of this White sister, while a
woman seemed to be reciting sacred words to them. The onlookers included other Caucasians and a couple more African brothers, whom I
assumed were with the first brother. In fact, one of them looked to be a relative. I tried not to straggle and stare, but couldn’t help noticing the
two little “Barack Obama” children in tow: one in a woman’s arms that looked remarkably like the photo of Ann Dunham dangling a chubby baby-
boy Barack over the fence; the other like a two-year old “Barack” twin toddling around.
I continued walking forward, all the time my head was turned backward. Between the glistening sunshine off the lake and the warm little
informal ceremony of this inter-cultural couple, my eyes were mesmerized!
When I finally did turn my head forward, wham! I almost ran into a sign that read “Private Function.” As I lifted my eyes, lo and behold, there
was a formal wedding ceremony in a cordoned off section of the Terrace rooftop. The approximately 75 guests were all seated neatly in two
sections facing the lake. In front of them was a small flat-top canopy under which stood a woman in a beautiful soft-white strapless gown and a
gentleman in a smart gray suit with some sort of cap on his head. In front of them was another woman who appeared to be officiating the
ceremony.
I tried not to breach the “private function” boundary as I inched in as close as I could to hear. Turns out it was a Jewish ceremony, and the
woman officiating was singing Hebrew prayers and explaining them in English. Fascinating!
As the minutes ticked by, I was spellbound between these two matrimonial ceremonies just a few feet apart from one another. My head
swiveled and turned from left to right to left. I didn’t want to miss any of these sights.
Then … it happened! In an instant — up from the ramp and onto the rooftop waltzed in this magnificent prince and princess Asian bride and
groom. Her sparkling bright white wedding dress was flowing flourescently in the breeze as a photographer led them to just the perfect place to
take their eternal portraits. The bride’s mom and dad scrambled behind them carrying tote bags and other odds & ends.
My mouth dropped open in awe! Three couples, from three different worlds, all beginning their new life journeys on this special day,
passing through this special Monona Terrace place.
At this point I backed away from the “private function” boundary sign a bit, so I could keep my eye on all three stories now unfolding before
me …
… The African brother with his love in his arms. Now the Jewish couple walking around each other in circles as a Hebrew song was sung.
Now the Asian prince and princess strike the official pose with the Capital behind them.
… Then the African brother “salutes” his love as the onlookers clap their hands. Then the prince and princess strike the second official
pose with the background of the shimmering Monona Lake. Finally, a glass shatters on the ground, followed by a shout in unison from the
Jewish ceremony … “Mazoltov”!
Eileen Cecile Hocker is a diversity outreach coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement, a
writer, and an absolute lover of traveling adventures!
Welcome back to my travelogue of affordable trips and adventures. For this one, I didn’t go far at all. In fact, I got a “two-fer” as I witnessed
a snapshot of multicultural Madison while venturing right in our own backyard of the Monona Terrace.
Monona Terrace Wednesday (August 31, 2009)
It was a bright and breezy summer day. Although the end of August, it turned out to be a new beginning for three unique couples in Madison,
who intersected each other on the rooftop of the beautiful Monona Terrace.
It all started when I decided to go there for an afternoon walk. As I arrived onto the Terrace I walked by a handful of people and then
suddenly realized this was some sort of marriage ceremony. There was an African brother gently holding the hands of this White sister, while a
woman seemed to be reciting sacred words to them. The onlookers included other Caucasians and a couple more African brothers, whom I
assumed were with the first brother. In fact, one of them looked to be a relative. I tried not to straggle and stare, but couldn’t help noticing the
two little “Barack Obama” children in tow: one in a woman’s arms that looked remarkably like the photo of Ann Dunham dangling a chubby baby-
boy Barack over the fence; the other like a two-year old “Barack” twin toddling around.
I continued walking forward, all the time my head was turned backward. Between the glistening sunshine off the lake and the warm little
informal ceremony of this inter-cultural couple, my eyes were mesmerized!
When I finally did turn my head forward, wham! I almost ran into a sign that read “Private Function.” As I lifted my eyes, lo and behold, there
was a formal wedding ceremony in a cordoned off section of the Terrace rooftop. The approximately 75 guests were all seated neatly in two
sections facing the lake. In front of them was a small flat-top canopy under which stood a woman in a beautiful soft-white strapless gown and a
gentleman in a smart gray suit with some sort of cap on his head. In front of them was another woman who appeared to be officiating the
ceremony.
I tried not to breach the “private function” boundary as I inched in as close as I could to hear. Turns out it was a Jewish ceremony, and the
woman officiating was singing Hebrew prayers and explaining them in English. Fascinating!
As the minutes ticked by, I was spellbound between these two matrimonial ceremonies just a few feet apart from one another. My head
swiveled and turned from left to right to left. I didn’t want to miss any of these sights.
Then … it happened! In an instant — up from the ramp and onto the rooftop waltzed in this magnificent prince and princess Asian bride and
groom. Her sparkling bright white wedding dress was flowing flourescently in the breeze as a photographer led them to just the perfect place to
take their eternal portraits. The bride’s mom and dad scrambled behind them carrying tote bags and other odds & ends.
My mouth dropped open in awe! Three couples, from three different worlds, all beginning their new life journeys on this special day,
passing through this special Monona Terrace place.
At this point I backed away from the “private function” boundary sign a bit, so I could keep my eye on all three stories now unfolding before
me …
… The African brother with his love in his arms. Now the Jewish couple walking around each other in circles as a Hebrew song was sung.
Now the Asian prince and princess strike the official pose with the Capital behind them.
… Then the African brother “salutes” his love as the onlookers clap their hands. Then the prince and princess strike the second official
pose with the background of the shimmering Monona Lake. Finally, a glass shatters on the ground, followed by a shout in unison from the
Jewish ceremony … “Mazoltov”!
Eileen Cecile Hocker is a diversity outreach coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement, a
writer, and an absolute lover of traveling adventures!
