Tennis friends of Mary (Medlin) and Gene Simonsen threw a surprise Tahitian-themed wedding reception last Friday to make up for the fact that the couple had jetted off to the beautiful island of Moorea, Tahiti, to tie the knot on June 22.
“We were all at Ocean Grill and she walked in and blinded us with her engagement ring,” said Gloria Pappalardo. “We all said we wanted to be part of their wedding party, but they went off to Tahiti to get married. So we decided to do this. Any excuse for a party!”
Pappalardo had introduced the widow and widower, setting up the fun-loving pair on a blind date a little over a year and a half ago. Both were avid tennis players, but lived on opposite ends of the county and had not yet met – Simonsen in John’s Island and Sea Oaks, and Medlin in Timber Ridge.
“They’re both wonderful people; awesome individuals,” said Scotty Studley, beaming at the happy couple.
The bride is one of a group of about a dozen women who get together regularly for birthday celebrations and thought she was heading to Captain Hiram’s Friday night to celebrate the August birthdays of Sally Fish and Lucille Pew.
But the ladies had other plans. Deprived of their duties at the actual wedding, they did the next best thing, throwing a festive Polynesian reception. The “bridesmaids” wore matching dresses of blue and coral highlighted with colorful leis. They purchased a matching style in white for the bride to change into, complete with a veil and floral headpiece. Tables were decorated with coconuts, pineapples, flowers and palms, as well as two lush wedding cakes.
“I’m verklempt,” laughed a glowing Mary Simonsen, taking a cue from the Mike Myers “Saturday Night Live” character, about the wonderful surprise. “My friends are amazing; I’m so blessed. This is unbelievable.”
