Like Romeo and Juliet
Sean Smithers and Ann Schaulb will be having a storybook wedding on Saturday, October 29, at the Renaissance Faire in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They were the winners in a contest sponsored by WXTU radio after Ann submitted a letter and listeners and visitors to the station’s webpage voted for them.##M:[more]##
Their prize includes a wedding package of a renaissance feast for up to 50 guests, bride and groom costume dress rentals, use of the wedding gazebo for the ceremony, a castle wedding cake, champagne toast for the guests, souvenir etched champagne flutes for the bride and groom, and customized entertainment by Faire Village Players.
The prospective bridegroom, a former West Windsor resident, is the son of Edwin and Teri Mier. A graduate of South Brunswick High School, he is employed by Regal Theaters in MarketFair.
His best man is his brother, Robert Smithers Jr. of Cranbury, a major in the Army Reserves, who recently returned from Iraq. He is a graduate of WW-P High School.
The bride-to-be is the daughter of Gilbert and Ann Schaulb of Toms River. A graduate of Georgian Court College, she is employed by Ceridian Benefits in Plainsboro and Harry and David’s in MarketFair.
Excerpts from the winning letter, “Romeo and Juliet’s Wedding Woes,” follows:
With our Wedding Woes we seem to be following the tale of Romeo (Sean) and Juliet (Ann). We met at a Holiday Party in December, 2003. When Romeo asked Juliet to dance, it was love at first sight. Within three days Romeo proposed to Juliet.
We officially became engaged when Romeo gave Juliet a diamond engagement ring on Valentine’s Day, 2004. Romeo and Juliet again announced to their parents and they thought we were out of our minds. We planned to be married by December, 2004. However Romeo’s best man, his brother, was informed by the Military (Army) that he was to be deployed to Iraq right after Labor Day, 2004, and would be gone for 10 months.
Romeo and Juliet started to make plans so they could be married October 21, 2005, after Romeo’s brother (Rob) came home. While his brother was away Romeo and Juliet were in for a big shock, both families seemed to be against the wedding.
The couple felt like they were in a joust and only wanted their parents’ blessing, but most of all they wanted them to be part of Romeo and Juliet’s special day. Romeo’s parents were willing to throw an official couple party, as long as they did not get married. When Romeo’s brother returned after July 4, 2005, he seemed to agree with his parents and was also against the marriage.
The couple then decided they’ll get married anyway with the Justice of the Peace; however Juliet did want to have her fairy tale wedding. The couple went to Juliet’s parents and had a heart to heart and they finally gave their blessings and stated they’ll attend the wedding — however they will not contribute toward it. So the old tale of the bride’s parents paying for the ceremony and reception is not always true.
Romeo’s brother met with the couple again and the family had a change of heart and not only will attend the wedding, but will contribute to the cost. Things were looking up until more wedding plan woes. After looking for reception sites and the fact Romeo’s mother has a church event that weekend, the date was changed to October 14.
Romeo really wanted to get married in October. However with the constant family duels and the fact the couple cannot afford this fairy tale day themselves, they put their hands to the powers that will be and changed the date to postpone the wedding for another seven months.
Things are looking up for Romeo and Juliet Yesterday Romeo finally got a job. However Romeo is still heart broken and needs to make his dream wedding come true for October, 2005.
So Sean and Ann plead with you to let us have our special day at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Thank You WXTU and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire for giving us the chance to win our dream wedding. Not in a lifetime does everyone get to live the tale of Juliet and her Romeo.
