“Wedding of the Century” Draws Couples from all over California

For Immediate Release Contact: Leah Ammon, (408) 961‐5814
May 16, 2012
lammon@montalvoarts.org
“Wedding of the Century” Draws Couples from all over California
Nearly 70 couples of all faiths and backgrounds to renew vows at Montalvo on June 10
SARATOGA, Calif. – On Sunday, June 10 from 2
to 5pm, the Montalvo Arts Center will
celebrate both its 100 year history as a premier
wedding location, and the thousands of brides
and grooms who have been married at on its
grounds with a celebration called “Wedding of
the Century.” Any couple who wishes to renew
their marriage vows is welcome to participate
in a nondenominational group ceremony with
ABOVE: Among the couples returning to Montalvo to
renew their vows on June 10 will be this couple,
married on the grounds in the 1970s.
reception to follow. Tickets are $50 per adult,
$15 for children aged 6 to 18 years, and free for
children 5 and under.
Wedding in the Garden: “Wedding of the Century” Offers Married at Montalvo Experience
The event will begin at 2pm with hors d’oeuvres and champagne served in the Villa, where
flower arrangements, an installation of vintage bridal fashion, and archival wedding photos will
be on view. The vow renewal ceremony will take place in the Oval Garden led by Reverend
William Swing, former bishop of the San Francisco Grace Cathedral. After the ceremony, guests
will enjoy a reception featuring wedding cake samples from four local bakeries, toasts and
speeches, live music, and arts and crafts projects for children.
– MORE –

Something Old, Something New: “Wedding of the Century” Celebrates Both Past and Present
The festivities planned for the event are rooted in
Montalvo’s history and bridal tradition: on view in the Villa
will be 20 vintage bridal gowns, demonstrating wedding
fashion from the 1860s to the 1950s. Also on view will be an
assortment of photographs of couples who have been
married at Montalvo over the years, from the institution’s
archives. Guests are invited to bring framed copies of their
wedding photos to add to the day’s display. The postceremony
reception will include toasts led by Montalvo
Executive Director Angela McConnell, plus parlor games
focusing on wedding superstitions and lore.
ABOVE: A vintage wedding photograph
from the Montalvo archive.
At the same time, the event is envisioned as being a celebration of the future, with an emphasis
on couples creating memories together during the day. In that spirit, any couple who wishes to
renew their vows, regardless of where they were originally married, may attend the event. A
professional photographer will be onsite to take portrait photographs, and all attendees will be
invited to decorate a page in a special “Wedding of the Century” guestbook, which will be
added to the Montalvo archive.
From Five to Five Hundred Miles: Couples To Attend from All Destinations, Walks of Life
More than 70 couples have already signed up to participate in the event, traveling from all over
the state of California, with one couple flying in specially from Virginia. A few of the attending
couples have been married for more than 50 years, others have been married for less than a
year. Some couples will be attending the event alone, others are bringing groups of family and
friends to participate in the ceremony. Montalvo is still accepting RSVPs to the event through
May 30. To purchase tickets, please call the Montalvo Box Office at (408) 961‐5858.
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THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY
What: A special vow‐renewal ceremony and reception open to all couples, planned as part of
Montalvo’s series of Centennial events.
When: Sunday, June 10, 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: The Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95071
Admission: $50 per person | $15 per child aged 6 to 18 | FREE for children 5 and younger. To
purchase tickets, please call the Montalvo Box Office from 10am to 6pm, Monday through
Friday, at (408) 961‐5858.
# # #
Now celebrating its centennial year, Montalvo Arts Center is an oasis of culture
and nature whose mission is to create and present arts of all types, nurture
artists, and use our historic Villa, buildings, and grounds in innovative ways that
engage people in the creative process. Located in Silicon Valley's Saratoga hills,
Montalvo occupies a Mediterranean‐style Villa, built in 1912 by Senator James
Duval Phelan, surrounded by 175 stunning acres, including the campus of our
international Lucas Artists Residency Program. Senator Phelan bequeathed the
villa and grounds to the people of California for the encouragement of art, music,
literature and architecture, a mandate that Montalvo has carried forward ever
since its founding. For more information, call (408) 961‐5800 or visit
www.montalvoarts.org
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