Memories, the gift that keeps on giving, will stay with us forever. Triggered by senses relative to the experience, we can often recall special moments so completely it is as if we are navigating them for the first time. A walk down a familiar street, or through the rooms of a previous home and our past can be found in memories left all around us.
Three an a half years after first connecting online, Mario would bring Ryan back to the memory of a first kiss. Standing in the very spot, that memory recalled in full, would now be enhanced with another unforgettable moment as Mario got down on one knee to ask Ryan to spend the rest of his life with him, together as partners in marriage…
Continuing reading all about Ryan and Mario’s love story and “industrial chic” wedding at the Red Space in Cleveland Ohio.
Couple: Ryan Zymler & Mario Clopton
Occupations: Social Worker, Teacher
Wedding date: 10.1.2016
Wedding location: Red Space, Cleveland, Ohio
Tell us how you met and all about the proposal: We met on match.com in 2012, and had our first date on January 31st, 2012 at the Fairmount Winery in Cleveland Heights. About 3 and a half years later, on Mario’s birthday (June 5th, 2015) Mario and I went to have dinner at the Fairmount, where we always try to spend special days. We asked some of our friends to meet up after dinner, only a handful of them knew what was going on. Mario and I arrived and he fumbled and told me to hold on for a second. He hugged me and asked if I remembered our first kiss, which had taken place in that parking lot the night after our first date. I said I did, and he started talking about wanting to spend the rest of his life with me. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in the place where we had our first kiss.
Wedding Style: Our wedding “feel” was sort of industrial chic – Red Space is a raw space, a warehouse, that we filled in with our own vendors.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Yes, we incorporated aspects of both of our cultures. As young black men, we wanted to incorporate historical black or African traditions like jumping the broom and libations for family members lost. We also incorporated some of the traditions of a Jewish wedding, as Ryan was raised Jewish. We were married under a chupah, shared wine (Kidush,) had a beautiful ketubah and broke the glass. Our officiant, the Reverend Waltrina Middleton, is an incredible woman who included many different readings from religious scripts.
Wedding Party gifts: (“groomsmen and groomsbabes”) For the guys, we gave them socks & ties, and for the women, small wire bracelets.
Favorite item on the menu: THE VEGGIE SUSHI!
First dance song: “Now and Forever” by Richard Marx
What is your best memory from your wedding? The ceremony was beautiful and we were both so happy with how it turned out. The whole day was incredible, especially leading up to it. The party bus, getting ready, all of it. I think both of us would say our favorite memory was our first dance.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Stay within your budget! But most importantly, focus on what matters to you. Do what you want to make the day about you as a couple.
Vendors:
Venue: Red Space
Photographer: JazzyMae Photography
Photography Assistant – Kamron Ahmad-Khan
Tuxes: American Commodore
Dresses: Alfred Angelo
Rentals (Furniture, table cloths, etc): Event Source
Catering (food & dessert): Culinary Occasions
Florist: Urban Orchid
Wedding Stylist: Ned Breznai
Entertainment/DJ: Rock the House
Rings: Ashcroft & Oak
String Quartet Arrangements: Mario Clopton
Limo: A1 Mr. Limo
