Annual Marriage Marathon Celebrates Great Joy Of Life
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Family and friends of the newly-married Anne and Robert Scrima are pictured with the couple during the annual marriage marathon at Huntington Town Hall on Tuesday.
Several couples joined hands and united in marriage this Valentine’s Day as Huntington Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia performed her annual Marriage Ceremony Marathon at town hall.
“Love of another is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have for it can add depth of meaning to our lives,” Raia, who has been the town’s marriage officer since 1989, said during the ceremonies. “Marital love is one of life’s greatest joys and when combined with genuine giving and sharing the lives of each partner will be infinitely enhanced.”
With a total of 11 marriages performed, the marathon spanned 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Robert Scrimia, 47, and Anne Scrima, 52, both of East Northport, said they decided to tie the knot after dating for 11 years. The two were originally introduced at a mutual friend’s birthday party, Anne said. She recognized Robert’s name; he was a classmate of her younger sister, Christine.
“Plus it just struck me as such a funny name,” she added with a laugh. “I had never seen him before, but I always knew the name — and now I’ve got the name.”
Robert said the couple also bonded over a mutual love for Pink Floyd and hatred for the Grateful Dead.
This came up during the party when one of Anne’s friends discussed plans to see a Grateful Dead cover band.
“I hate the Dead,” Anne said.
The statement was met by Robert, who said, “I hate them too. I’ll join you.”
Anne and Robert Scrima are all smiles cutting their wedding cake after their wedding ceremony, which was performed by Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia.
Another of Tuesday’s newlyweds is are Brian, 42, and Cari Walling, 40, both of Huntington. Their love story began in January 2015 when they met at a bar during a ski trip in Killington, Vermont.
They were having fun together, watching football on the television. They discovered that they were both “rooting against the New England Patriots because we’re both New York Giants fans,” Cari said.
“We’ve never been apart since that night,” she added.
Brian said they had even more in common, which they learned through fun conversation.
”But what sealed the deal was the hug when she was leaving,” he said.
As Cari left the bar to meet with friends for dinner, she said the hug they shared was the “best hug ever” and the two met up later that evening.
Their first date soon followed; it was at Besito Mexican Restaurant in Huntington. Brian and Cari were engaged in July 2016, when they spent Fourth of July weekend at Cari’s family lake house in Maine.
Cari and Brian Walling share a private moment after their wedding ceremony, which was performed during the Town of Huntington’s annual Marriage Ceremony Marathon.
Each ceremony on Tuesday was followed by a reception. The couples cut wedding cake and enjoyed other baked goods donated by merchants across the Town of Huntington.
Throughout the years, the ceremony has been supported by many local merchants, and this year was no different. Many florists, bakeries, supermarkets and more chipped in.
2017 VALENTINE’S DAY WEDDING MARATHON CONTRIBUTORS:
HUNTINGTON (cont.)
Herrell’s Ice Cream
King Kullen
Main Street Nursery & Florist
The Marketplace at Southdown
Reinwald’s Bakery
Rite Aid Pharmacy
Stella Blue Bistro
Stop & Shop
Value Drugs
Wild By Nature
Wild Flours Bake Shop
HUNTINGTON STATION
Flowerdale By Patty
MELVILLE
Bagel Biz & Sweet Hollow Bakery
Bunny’s Floral
Photos by Thomas
NORTHPORT
Copenhagan Bakery
Fashions in Flowers
Hengstenberg’s Florist
CENTERPORT
Blondie’s Bake Shop
COLD SPRING HARBOR
Sweetie Pies on Main
EAST NORTHPORT
Beckman’s Florist
Everbest Bakery
Hummel Hummel Bake Shop
Laura’s Floral Elegance
GREENLAWN
Decker’s Greenlawn Florist
HUNTINGTON
A Rise Above Bakery Shop
A Tisket A Tasket Anything In A Basket
Bon Bons Chocolatier
Cactus Salon
Fiorello Dolce Patisserie
Floras Avenue
The Flower Petaler
Funky Flower Shop
Good2Go Deli
