The following are messages we've received about this
movement. We can't be certain if these folks received bouquets from
us--there are plenty of people sending flowers to San Francisco--but
it's the sentiment that counts.
I just wanted to let you know what it was like to
be on the receiving end of this incredible gift. My
partner and I arrived at City Hall at 7:00am, to discover
that we were couple 213, way too far back in the line to
be married in all likelihood that day. Still, we decided
to stay on, showing how many of us hope to have our
relationships legally recognized. It was raining, but
spirits were high, despite a religious zealot with a
microphone telling us what it would be like to burn in
hell. Most folks treated his with humor, posing for
photos like he was a character at Disneyland. Then this
van pulled up and a guy jumped out asking, "are you
getting married?" I must admit I was a little
nervous, but we said yes.
The Happy Couple
The guy popped the trunk and pulled out bouquet
after bouquet - huge arrangements with so much color -
every one unique. We were handed one that made us cry
because it contained lisianthus, an uncommon flower that
looks like an old fashioned rose. You see, Jenna and I
got married five years ago. It wasn't legal, but all our
friends and family were there, and it was the most
beautiful day of my life. My bouquet that day was made of
lisianthus. I don't know how it happened that we got a
bouquet with this same flower, but it made it seem all
the more magical. Those bouquets made such a difference
to every one of us in line. I know I am speaking on the
part of many other couples when we say it meant the world
to us, reading the cards from dozens of different states,
knowing that each represented someone else's life, and
their choice to support ours. We never did make it to the
front of the line, but we'll be back next week, and I'll
be carrying that bouquet.
Kathy
My partner of 18 years and I were married at SF
City Hall on Sunday, Feb. 15. I read about the flower
project in the paper this morning. It made me cry. Thank
you and everyone who donated for the flowers and for the
spirit that you are sending our way. It will not be
forgotten.
Patti and Magin
Thank you! We are one of very fortunate couples who received your
gift of flowers #(08996). We came to San Francisco from Connecticut
in hopes of getting married...and I am happy to say that we are now
spouses for life! My husband and I have been together for 9 years
and today (February 25, 2004 at 11:00am) we got married in the center
of city hall. It was a very simple ceremony that was witnessed by
a lesbian couple that we met in line while waiting for our license.
They too were married in city hall just a few minutes before us. Sadly
to say there was no family around us to share in our moment, but our
new friends helped to create a very special memory that will last
forever. The flowers that your so generously donated is a beautiful
arrangement of pick and purples....tulips, lilies, daisies, snap dragons
and tuns of others that I do not know that names of. I wish I could
personally thank each and every person who helped to make this the
happiest day on my life. Knowing that we have your love and support
means a great deal to both of us.
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mr. Tim and Toby, Winsted, CT
I was one of the couples who actually was lucky enough to get
married at SF City Hall on Friday, February 20 and since you all have
been so kind to send us so much love, I thought that you should get
a firsthand account of what it was like.
On February 20, 2004, I was married in San Francisco City Hall.
My partner and I left our home in Sacramento at 1 AM on Thursday night
and secured our place as the 55th couple in line at 3:30 AM on Friday
morning. I cannot even begin to describe to you how amazing it was
to be in that line hoping that we were close enough to the front to
get in that day. It was raining and very cold all night and we arrived
on one hour of sleep. Everyone was a bit tense to get in before the court case was heard on Friday at 2:00, where they could
have issued an injunction stopping all of the weddings at City Hall.
But spirits were high and people were amazing.
While in line, we met very nice couples, many of whom had children
who were there to be a part of their wedding. The women in front of
us actually tucked me in when I laid down on the sidewalk at 4AM with
my
head in my partner's lap. They pulled my blankets over me and made
sure
I was covered all the way down over my feet. People were passing donuts
down the line as the sun came up. A couple who had been married a
few days earlier came with gallons of coffee, creamer, sugar and cups
and were handing it out to people in line. Gay and straight people
from around the country, and even the world, are sending flowers to
be delivered to any random person waiting in line to get married with
cards saying things like, "Best of luck and wishes for a long
life of happiness! -Love from Supporters in Minneapolis" We saw
dozens of such bouquets handed out, though we did not receive one
because our family brought enough flowers for a small army :) The
recipients of the flowers were so touched and moved and it was just
such
a pure and beautiful show of love and support. Most of have spent
our
lives fighting for our rights and to have such a pure moment of love
was
so amazing.
As the sun came up, protestors started arriving and shouting.
We started singing. Peaceful songs, patriotic songs. Since we got
there so early, we were 55th in line and were in the second group
to be let into City Hall. The line was long, but every couple that
walked past with their marriage license was met with loud cheers from
everyone down the line. When we were approximately 10 couples back
in line, the protestors stormed the building and stopped all progress
by laying down and blocking the doorway. They were chanting "This
is Wrong" and singing religious songs. The Media was swarming
everywhere. The couples in line all responded by singing the National
Anthem to drown out the protestors. They were in there for maybe 10
minutes before the Sheriff escorted them out.
When it was finally our turn, City Hall was amazing. They were
efficient, caring and wonderful. They told us how much they supported
us and told us to take a deep breath and relax that we were in their
hands and they intended on making our wedding special and wonderful.
We went in and did all of the paperwork, took an oath and signed the
documents. We had our license then. It was not official, however,
until we had our ceremony and were married by an ordained official.
An escort took us to the Capital Rotunda and inroduced us to our official,
who was wonderful. We exchanged rings. We said "I Do". She
pronounced us Spouses for Life.
What an amazing experience, and what a feeling to be on the receiving
end of such an outpouring of love from the community, both locally
and worldwide. I am forever grateful to have been a part of this all
and to have been married and to be able to feel the depth that has
brought into my life and relationship. Thank you all for your love
and support.
Stephanie
I got married in San Francisco yesterday to my partner of three years, Brian.
You can imagine how absolutely shocked and delighted I was to receive a huge, gorgeous bouquet of flowers in the middle of the grand rotunda at City Hall with a congratulations card attached:
"Congratulations, with love from Work Place Alliance Out Front Minneapolis"
in an envelope from Flowers By The Bay addressed "To The Happy Couple c/o City Hall, San Francisco".
I was absolutely in tears. Thank you all so much for sending these flowers -- it absolutely made my wedding the most stunning, amazing experience.
Here's photos of my wedding:
http://foxden.org/gallery/Wedding
You can see the flowers at:
http://foxden.org/gallery/Wedding/aat
It's wonderful that you're using PayPal to send flowers to newlyweds like me. Thank you so much.. you've really touched Brian's and my lives, and I deeply appreciate what you're doing.
Ben
We would just like to thank you for your random acts, not only
of kindness, but of inspiration for a world which can share the beauty
of all love. We were one of the thousands of fortunate couples finally
allowed official recognition of our relationship after 23 years. All
we were missing was the tuxedo and flowers. Then suddenly,with your
gift of flowers and your creative machinery, we even had that. Although
it would have been nice to have family around us to share in our moment,
your generosity and thoughtfulness created a shared experience with
a much broader , more involved community, which very few couples have
the opportunity to enjoy. We wish we could personally thank each and
every person who helped to make this the happiest day of our life,
but we can certainly start with you.
In common brotherhood,
Gene and Ben, San Rafael, CA
My new wife and I married yesterday and as we left the steps of
the Rotunda, we were handed a beautiful bonquet. Thank you so much
for the donations, it was a wonderful surprise.
Thank you and best wishes, Dorrene and Pauline
We are two grandmothers from Texas, together 15 years, who appreciate
your making our wedding today even more memorable and beautiful than
we expected . We flew into San Jose in monsoon-like weather yesterday,
met our 10-day-old grandson for the first time last night and got
hitched today at City Hall, moments before Rosie and Kelli tied the
knot. The flowers you sent are beautiful -- we both feel so validated
by the support of people whom we don't even know who have gone out
of their ways to support our right to secure public recognition of
our love for one another. Your generosity will long be remembered.
Thank you,
Holly & Patti
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus has had the privilege to sing
at some of the marriages taking place at City Hall. Yesterday (2/26)
we were able to sing for Rosie O'Donnell and her bride following their
private wedding ceremony. Before the couple arrived, the rotunda area
filled up with hundreds of well-wishers and media people and the space
was abuzz in anticipation. The chorus members were all given individual
flowers to hold from some of the donated bouquets (#08996) through
your website. As Rosie and her wife proceeded down the rotunda steps
to the delight of hundreds of cheering folk and paparazzi, the chorus
belted out "Going To The Chapel." As we swayed in unison to the song,
each of us held a flower aloft to honor the new couple. It was a really
beautiful sight. Thanks to everyone who has brought so much joy with
their heartfelt gift of flowers!
In support of equality for all,
Jim, San Francisco
On behalf of my newlywed friends, Edwin and Lyndon--who were married
in a moving ceremony at the top of the stairs in the magnificent rotunda
of San Francisco City Hall on Friday, March 5, 2004 at 2 p.m., I want
to heartily thank you for the kind and beautiful gesture of sending
a bouquet. The bouquet from you and others was such an uplifting confirmation
of the absolute rightness of all people to be able to be joined in
legal union. These marriages here in San Francisco are a great breakthrough
for civil rights for all people and your contribution added much to
its personal, political and moral meaningfulness.
Charles, San Francisco
My partner and I were very surprised by the warm welcome the city
of San Francisco provided to us on our special day....My lover, (Daren)
and I drove 6 hours to reach San Francisco from southern California....We
were not sure what to expect when we arrived at City Hall....We walked
around for awhile checking the place out from top to bottom, it's
very nice. The civil service went smoothly....We were told that lots
people donated flowers, and City Hall had some donated flowers around
the NW wall of the main hall....Other couples were picking flowers....And
when we got to the head of the line, it was our turn to pick some
out....My partner, Daren, picked up very beautiful roses....The only
red roses in the hall. Anyway, thanks from the bottom of our hearts
for the warm and loving feeling the roses provided...
Rick & Daren Rosamond, California
Thank you so much for the flowers at our wedding. We are two ladies
who have been together for 18 years and have two young children. It
meant so much to have the support as a group of protesters sang and
chanted as we left city hall. Our daughter was delighted to have more
flowers to carry.
Thursday, March 4, was such an incredibly wonderful day. Bob,
my partner of 30 years and now "spouse for life", and I
were married at the top of the stairs under the rotunda of San Francisco's
spectacular City Hall. Receiving your lovely bouquet added so much
meaning to our day. What a beautiful gift to couples you don't even
know - but want to be a part of sharing in their loving celebrations.
Who knew that such deep feelings about gaining legitimacy are out
there in such numbers... We thank you and all of those supporting
you from the bottom of our hearts.
Just wanted to say thank-you for the beautiful bouquet that we
gave to our daughter. This day was unusual for us and we didn't think
of all the little things. It was so thoughtful of you and the many
individuals throughout the world for thinking of the little things.
We picked a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips for our "Angel". Here's
a picture of the happy couple! Thank-you again!
My partner and I were married in San Francisco yesterday and received
a beautiful arrangement of flowers from Flowers By The Bay. We want
to thank you for your generosity and support. Some couples who receive
these flowers are there without any support from anyone, except that
of a thoughtful stranger. For us, it was very touching to know that
somebody far away was supporting our decision and thinking of us.
Your generosity and kindness means a great deal, and we will always
remember that thoughtful, anonymous somebody who cared enough to send
us a little bit of love on that very special day.
Cody and Trevan,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Its Michael from Church Street Flowers. Monday morning we were
at City Hall to hand off webbing bouquets to happy couples. Today
Tuesday March 9th we made two trips today to City Hall. On our afternoon
run the outside front of City Hall was filled with small-minded people
with there signs that say homosexuality is a sin and so forth. One
of our employees and I walked into City Hall where we handed more
wedding bouquets to happy couples. I cant begin to tell you how much
I enjoy this process and how happiness you all are bringing these
couples.
Michael , Tom and Stephanie
My partner and I were married at City Hall in San Francisco on
Monday, March 1. While waiting in line with three other couples of
our friends we were given, as were all of the other couples in line,
a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Not a teeny one, but a huge one! Neither
of us has even basic knowledge of flowers (other than being able to
tell a geranium from a petunia), so we can't describe the bouquet
to you, but it was a mixture of bright complementary blooms including
some kind of lilies (I think).
We weren't prepared for the emotional impact of participating
in this civil service. Nor did we have any idea of how profoundly
we would be affected by the joy and love that permeated City Hall
as couple after couple moved through the three lines necessary to
complete the process. Not only were there multitudes of happy couples,
but the City Hall staff was to a person warm and extremely helpful.
And then there were the numerous volunteers who helped out in a variety
of ways, including the distribution of these glorious bouquets of
flowers from persons not known to the recipients. We ask God's continued
blessings on you for the love extended to us through these flowers.
Thank you, thank you!
Mari (age 70) and Jeannine (age 56).
My partner of 29 years were married at San Francisco City Hall on
March 1, 2004. We had arranged the marriage in such a hurry that we
didn't have time to purchase flowers. Imagine our surprise when we
were both given a flower bouquet at City Hall! We were told how people
from all over the
world were sending flower bouquets for the happy couples getting married!
So, we are writing to say a big thanks and the flowers made our day
that much more special.
Big thanks!
Elizabeth and Rose
Here are a couple of reports from our volunteers who have delivered
flowers:
