A Unique Wedding at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater

Oscar Diaz and Janelly Mendoza, from Laredo, Texas, took a remarkable step in their lives when they married on stage at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on June 11. Following a performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by the Public Theater, they exchanged vows with actor Francis Jue officiating. Jue, who plays Friar Lawrence in the production, added real-life significance to the play by marrying the couple.

The couple met the theater’s associate artistic director, Saheem Ali, during his visit to Laredo. Ali’s rendition of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ reflects themes from the U.S.-Mexican border, engaging with cultural and political contrasts. During his visit, Ali learned about a tradition where couples from different sides of the border marry on a bridge. This inspired him to propose a real wedding to parallel the fictional union of Romeo and Juliet. Diaz and Mendoza initially dismissed the idea as unrealistic. But when Ali reached out again, the unlikely event became a reality.

The wedding was a first for Diaz in New York, while Mendoza had not visited since childhood. Before their nuptials, they enjoyed the city’s iconic sites like the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square. Their marriage was part of a broader initiative by the Public Theater, which offers a real wedding or vow renewal after every show this summer, totaling 32 ceremonies. Jue remarks on the shared experience in the theater, calling it a modern miracle amidst societal divisions, enhancing the communal feeling by witnessing these marriages.

After the performance, Jue calls the audience’s attention to the newlyweds. Oscar, in cowboy boots and a brown blazer, and Janelly, in an elegant ivory dress, share their vows before an elated audience. Their moment culminates in applause and cheers as they display their rings and sign their marriage license. Ali, serving as a witness, humorously assures them of their union’s permanence.

The ceremony exceeded Mendoza’s expectations, leaving her thrilled in the shared joy of the event. “It’s real now,” she reflects with a smile, embracing a future imagined and realized.

This account was curated by Luis Clemens and mixed for audio by Eleana Tworek.