A Unique Wedding at Shakespeare in the Park

Oscar Diaz and Janelly Mendoza, residents of Laredo, Texas, celebrated a memorable wedding on June 11 at the Delacorte Theater in New York. The ceremony took place on stage immediately after a performance of Romeo and Juliet presented by the Public Theater.

Cultural Connection

An hour before the performance, Diaz and Mendoza appeared on stage, visibly awestruck. Actor Francis Jue introduced himself as both Friar Lawrence in the play and the officiant for their legal wedding. The couple, friends since childhood, first met the Public’s associate artistic director Saheem Ali in Laredo.

The production of Romeo and Juliet was set at the U.S.-Mexican border, with Romeo’s family depicted as Latino and Juliet’s family shown as border patrol supporters. Ali sought firsthand experience of the border landscape, and during this visit, the couple introduced him to a unique cultural ritual where a Mexican and U.S. citizen marry on a bridge, standing in their respective countries.

From Concept to Reality

Ali thought of integrating this powerful symbol into the play. He envisioned ending Romeo and Juliet with a real wedding to contrast the fictional tragic ending, offering hope for the future. Initially, Mendoza and Diaz dismissed the idea, considering it beyond what regular people do. However, Ali reached out to them, turning this concept into reality.

A First for New York

This event marked Diaz’s debut trip to New York, while Mendoza had briefly visited as a child. Before the wedding, they toured iconic sites like the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square. Their wedding was part of a series of ceremonies concluding the play’s performances for the summer, totaling 32 weddings or vow renewals.

Francis Jue expressed gratitude for being chosen to officiate these weddings, viewing them as a way to unite people amid societal divisions. The theater becomes a space for communal experience and celebration.

The Ceremony

Following the play, Jue called for the audience’s attention. Diaz, in a brown blazer and cowboy boots, and Mendoza, in a long ivory dress, returned to the stage. Jue remarked on the contrast with the play, highlighting the couple’s journey from Laredo to their union witnessed by the theatergoers.

The ceremony was received with applause. The couple exchanged vows and later displayed their rings and signed the wedding license. Ali humorously pledged to ensure their marriage endures, saying, “It’s real now,” to which Mendoza joyfully agreed, noting the experience exceeded her expectations.

The event underlined a blend of art and life, presenting a message of hope and unity.