On the Cover: Happily Ever After
Falling in love is a natural progression in life.
Whether you meet someone interesting or grow up with a person who slowly catches your eye, it’s a wonderful feeling.
If you are lucky, it’s love at first sight, much like Traverse City residents Mary and Carlos Medina-Lucero.
“I met Carlos eight years ago while I was living in Las Vegas. One morning, I walked into my friend’s house and he was sitting on the couch in his pajamas. Our eyes met and I immediately knew we were going to be together,” said Mary, who was 18 at the time.
Added Carlos, who was 23, “I didn’t realize she was a friend of my roommate. When Mary walked in the door, the sun was shining behind her and she looked beautiful. I knew right away she was very special and I had never felt that way about anyone in my life.”
At the time, Mary and Carlos were in relationships, which they quickly ended. In the next three months, they began spending time together and getting to know each other better. After nine months, they were officially a couple.
“Mary became my best friend. We spent every free moment together and people would comment on what a great couple we made. We weren’t officially dating at the time, though that soon changed,” said Carlos.
In 2001, they moved to Spokane, Wash., to begin their relationship together. Son Mateo, now six years old, was born in 2005.
“We always knew we would get married, but wanted to make sure we both knew what we were getting into. It was something that was on our minds,” said Mary.
On Christmas morning in 2006, when Mateo was almost a year old, Mary was waiting patiently for her presents.
“We had opened all of the gifts and I didn’t get anything from Carlos. I thought it was very weird. He asked me to go check on something in the bedroom, so I did,” said Mary.
When she returned to the family room, Carlos was on bended knee with a ring in his hand.
“I was really nervous and didn’t want to mess it up. I wanted to make the proposal special to Mary and try to have some romantic aspect to it. It was an incredible moment,” said Carlos.
Mary said, “It was a total surprise! Of course, I said yes.”
Although they had decided to wed, it was important for Mary and Carlos to have everything planned perfectly for their wedding and their life together. They spent the next three years as an engaged couple.
“Because we were so young, it was important for us to make sure we were ready for this next step,” said Mary.
They moved to Traverse City and became members of the Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox church. In preparation for their wedding, which they planned for a year, Mary and Carlos went through marriage counseling.
“The priest wanted to make sure we knew that we were making a commitment to growing old together. We were pretty young, but both of us were sure in our decision,” said Mary, now 26.
In order to have their perfect wedding, the couple stuck to a budget and worked on finding great deals for their venue.
“My girlfriend flew in from Spokane and we tackled all the planning when she was here. We found a cake through friends and ordered flowers that would accommodate my tastes and my budget. We picked the Park Shore Resort for our wedding,” explained Mary.
At 3 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2010, Mary and Carlos recited their wedding vows on the beach with 225 guests in attendance.
“It was amazing to have everything come together like it did. Our reception was held at vineyard in an 100-year-old barn owned by Marco and Jody Martoni. They had met us once and were incredibly generous to lend their home for our reception,” said Mary.
The wedding involved a sustainable theme. The couple offered local wines, food from area farms and fresh flowers from area growers. The reception was catered by the Carlos’s parents, Eric and Theresa Patterson, who own The Cook’s House in Traverse City.
“We were amazed by the support we received. For this reason, it was important for us to give back to the local economy, which is why we bought everything within the area,” said Mary.
Once married, the couple decided to combine their last names and begin a new chapter in their family history.
“Mary is the last generation in her family. In mine, it is traditional to have long names. We combined our family name to keep her family line alive and to start a whole new branch in our family tree. We’re beginning our own little empire,” said Carlos.
Six months after their wedding, the couple spent two weeks in Puerto Vallarta for their honeymoon. During this time, they went deep sea fishing, biking around the island and enjoying some quality alone time.
“We’ve had eight years together and it seems like I just met Mary yesterday. As a young couple, it is important for us to work as a team in parenting and in our married life. We encourage each other and are positive in our roles as parents to Mateo. I look forward to retirement, cooking great meals and having a great garden with Mary by my side,” said Carlos.
Up North Bride Home » Spring 2011 Edition » On the Cover: Happily Ever After