SEPTEMBER 2020 I BOROMAG.COM
Photos by Sarah Bode-Clark Photography (@Sarah Bode-Clark)
Photos by Upasana Mainali
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Instead of celebrating their union with
over 60 guests in Spain, Diaz and Bonilla
hosted 40 guests at the intimate backyard
wedding. Plus, 50 people tuned in
virtually via Webex Conference. Guests
attending in person were required to get
coronavirus tests two weeks prior to the
ceremony and submit their results. Additionally,
guests had their temperatures
taken before entry.
“Getting 60 plus people to change
their plans for a later ‘undetermined’
date didn't seem feasible by any account
and my wife’s sister is also having a destination
wedding in 2021 with most of the
same guests,” Diaz said.
Astoria couple Allison Finder and Paul
Fields originally planned to get married
on June 6, 2020, at a restaurant in their
neighborhood. But when COVID-19 hit
and New York’s cases increased,
the couple’s venue closed down
for the foreseeable future and the
hotel their guests were to stay at
canceled their room block and reservations.
Instead of postponing the wedding
till next year and coordinating
with vendors all over again, Finder
and Fields decided to have their ceremony
on their rooftop, overlooking
Queens.
“Ultimately, I can’t imagine our wedding
happening any other way than it
did,” Finder said. “Both of us had been
so reluctant to plan a more ‘traditional’
wedding and felt like the meaning and
purpose could so easily be lost in the
minutiae and details and logistics and
in trying to make everyone around us
happy rather than focusing on the true
purpose and meaning of the day.”
Finder and Fields incorporated local
businesses such as The Bonnie into their
memorable day. In attendance were
their photographer Sarah Bode-Clarke;
a friend who served as the officiant and
signed their marriage license; and the
newlywed’s rescue dog, Fox. Their photographer
and officiant practiced social
distancing and traveled home before
the 8 p.m. curfew.
“We still got to exchange the vows we
wrote, pop champagne and have our
first dance. Most importantly, we got to
spend our entire wedding day celebrating
with each other,” Fields said. “It was
so special for both of us and couldn’t
have worked out more perfectly.”
Allison Finder and Paul Fields
/BOROMAG.COM
