Taking Off After the Wedding!

Joel and Campbell at the Wedding

Joel and Campbell Levy at the Wedding

The Text of our Ketubah in Hebrew and English

בששי

 בשבת בחמשה ימים לחדש אב שנת חמשת אלפים ושבע מאות ושבעים ואחת לבריאת עולם למנין שאנו מונים כאן באולד פורג' ניו יורק בארצות הברית כרתו הנאהבים משה מרדכי בן אברהם שמואל ומלכה אסתר ואנטוני אלברטו בן אלברטו ותרזיטה ברית משותפת בהערכה הדדית אוהבת ומלוות תמיכה לאורך חיים. "טבעות אלה שלנו מקדשות אהבה ורעות בפני אלהים ועדה. אנו נוקיר ונעריך הדדית בכבוד ובתום-לב, תוך כדי בנית עתיד משותף באהבה יוצרת. אנו מייחלים שאהבתינו תעודד אתנו להיות עצמנו ותאמצנו להלך בדרך בה בחרנו. בטקס זה אנו מצהירים על כוונתנו לספק הדדית תמיכה וזכויות כשל כל זוג אוהב. מי יתן וחיינו יהיו טוויים לעולם כאחד וחסויים בעדנה ובמסירות. אנו מבטיחים הדדית לשאוף ולהשיג את המטרות הבאות במשך חיינו המשותפים: להגיע לקרבה וגלוי לב שיאפשרו לנו להתחלק ברגשותינו ומחשבותינו הכמוסים ביותר, להיות רגישים ומבינים תמיד לצרכי השני, להיות שותפים לשמחות ולעזר בעתות צער וצרה, לעודד להגשמה עצמית ולשאוף יחד לשלוה נפשית. אנו גם מבטיחים להקים בית המעוצב במסורת ובערכי משפחתינו בשאיפה לחברה כוללת, בית אוהב שלום, תקוה והערכה לכל האדם, בית משפחה שופע אהבה ולמידה, חסד ונדיבות, נחמה וצדק. בשמחה אנו מצהירים ברית זאת קיימת ומחיבת לעד." והכל שריר וקים 

On the sixth day of the week, the fifth day of the month of Av, in the year 5771, corresponding to the fifth day of the month of August, in the year 2011, here in Old Forge, New York, U.S.A., the Beloveds, Mark Albert Burstein, son of Margery and Alan, and Anthony Alberto Balbona, son of Teresita and Alberto, entered into this mutual covenant as equal partners, loving and supportive companions in life: “These rings symbolize our commitment to each other as beloveds and friends before God and these witnesses. We shall treasure and respect each other with honor and integrity as we create a loving future together. May our love provide us with the determination to be ourselves and the courage to pursue our chosen path. With this ceremony we affirm our intention to provide for each other the protections and privileges of all loving couples. May our lives be intertwined forever and be as one in tenderness and devotion. As we share everyday experiences, we promise to strive for an intimacy that will enable us to express our innermost thoughts and feelings; to be sensitive at all times to each other’s needs; to share joys and to comfort each other through life’s sorrows; and to challenge each other to achieve intellectual and physical fulfillment as well as spiritual and emotional tranquility. We also promise to establish a home shaped by our family traditions and values, committed to the creation of an all-inclusive society; a loving environment dedicated to peace, hope, and respect for all people; and family filled with love and learning, goodness and generosity, comfort and compassion. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept its obligations.” All this is valid and binding. 

Thanks to the Team That Made a Perfect Day Possible

We had a wonderful team of friends, family and experts who helped us put together the wedding in record time -- just 4 weeks!  Our caterers were Sisters Bistro, and we thank Jeanne and Susan for providing such excellent food and service.  The flowers were provided by Mountain Greenery and we thank Kate Russell for making the house and surroundings shine with beauty.  Our exterior plants and flowers were provided by Jennifer and Sandy at Zone 3, our favorite supplier of plants and mulch for our gardens.  Jennifer was the most enthusiastic of all - she was hoping to do a wedding and then we came along! We appreciate all the work she put into creating the magic.  Our friend Jennifer made the perfect ring pillow.  My parents rose to the occasion and helped us in every way to put together the wedding we always wished for and we will always appreciate their love and support.  Florence, Joel, Robert, DJ, Lydia, Campbell, Hope, Didi and Jimmy, and our family and friends made it such a special day for us.  Our beautiful ketubah was the result of very careful thought and proofreading of hebrew and english, and the wonderful generosity of our Uncle Dick, Aunt Gayle, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Didi.  It will be a part of our home forever. And to Ann-Marie Vannucci, our photographer at AMV Photography and dear friend, thank you for capturing the magic and the pure joy of the day.  We also thank Judge Bernadette Clark for honoring us with her presence and performing the perfect ceremony for us, along with her husband and our friend Tom Clark.  Carol and Bill Porter thrilled us by coming and by bringing us the wedding cake from Pascale all the way from Syracuse, along with a case of wine perfectly chosen by Mr. Porter.  Finally, but importantly, we thank Governor Andrew Cuomo and the legislature who had the strength, courage, and perseverance to do what's right and make marriage for all New York citizens a right and not a wish.

Judge Bernadette Clark Awaits the Grooms

The Judge watches us approach for the vows.
Photo Credit: Gareth Rosenau

The Grooms Break the Glass

Anthony and I stamp on glass, a Jewish wedding custom.
Photo Credit: Gareth Rosenau

Our Friends Ben and Lorraine Alexander

Ben and Lorraine at the wedding.  They are also summer
residents of Fourth Lake at their beautiful camp, The Boulders.
We were so thrilled that they were with us on our wedding day.
Photo Credit: Gareth Rosenau

The Flower Girls - Campbell, Stella and Hope

Judge Clark observes the flower girls, Campbell Levy, Stella Breeze, and Hope
Levy as we make our way toward the Judge for the ceremony.  They were
so adorable!  Photo: Gareth Rosenau

The Stage is Set for the Wedding Ceremony

The setting for the wedding ceremony was on the front porch.
Anthony says that the whole house was our Chuppah!
Photo Credit: Gareth Rosenau

The Original Sketches for My Wedding Outfit

Anthony vetoed the original idea for my wedding attire, shown here.

Margie and Alan are All Smiles at the Party

My parent have a laugh during the party.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci
AMV Photography

It's Official - Almost!

It's almost official - we signed the marriage license along with
the Judge and witnesses.  Judge Clark filed it with the Inlet
Town Clerk that day and by the time we returned to New York
the marriage certificate was in our mailbox!
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography

Champagne and Good Company at the Reception

My Mother and Florence chat at the reception over glasses of champagne.
Photo Credit: Scott LaGreca

Mrs. Porter Parties at Penwood

Mrs. Porter enjoys the festivities.  The Porters delivered the wedding cake and tartlettes from
Pascale in Syracuse.  Mr. Porter said, "I'm going to be honest with you - I ate two of your
tarts on the way up and was about to eat a third, but Mrs. Porter stopped me. She was
awful cross with me."

The Reception Buffet by Sisters Bistro, Old Forge

The Judge enjoys some of the wonderful food provided by Sisters Bistro.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com