We
meet new guests at every concert. This past Sunday, the Blue Man Group
offered up yet another opportunity to meet visitors from near and far as
they ventured upon Northwest Ohio’s Music City for entertainment. With
the Cavalier Steel Drum band playing in the background and a lobby party
sponsored by Gary Taylor in full swing, I happened upon a kind couple
who had a unique story to tell. They were the VanWerts and their tale,
in their own words, goes like this.
Yes, we are the VanWerts.
My name is Patrick and my wife is Barb. We reside in Columbus, Ohio. We
met Tafi Stober this past Sunday evening just prior to the Blue Man
Group performance. She asked if I’d write a little story about Mr. and
Mrs. VanWert.
We were married in Oct. 23, 2004, in the
reading room of the Brumback Library. Yes, the VanWerts were married in
Van Wert. I am originally from Midland, Michigan, and Barb is a military
child who spent most of her life in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She
moved to Columbus in 1999. We met at her parent’s home in Surprise,
Arizona, in 2000 as I happened to be their neighbor. (Yes, I’ve known my
in-laws longer than I’ve known my wife.) I proposed in 2003 and moved
to Columbus the following year.
In May of that year, we
joked about getting married in Van Wert but we laughed it off. In June
we discussed again where we would get married and did not have a
location with sentimental meaning. I called the Van Wert Chamber of
Commerce and inquired about places to get married in this beautiful
little town. The nice lady said, “Let me make some phone calls and I’ll
call you back”. About 15 minutes later I get a phone call from Don
Farmer. He said “Hello Mr. VanWert. I’m Mayor Don Farmer from Van Wert. I
heard you and your fiancé are looking for a place to get married here.”
He
continued, “ I’ve never officiated a wedding and as the mayor, I am
legally able to perform wedding ceremonies. I would be honored if you’d
allow me to be the person who will marry the VanWerts in Van Wert.”
It
was a done deal. We made two trips to Van Wert over the next couple of
months. We met Thad Davis, a Van Wert resident, who would cater our
little reception. I did a mock proposal on a Friday night at Fountain
Park (during the Concert in the Park) in front of about 1,500 people.
Mayor Farmer invited the whole city to the big event in October.
On
Oct. 23, 2004, Barb’s parents flew in from Arizona. Her best friend
flew in from Colorado Springs. Barb’s two sisters and their families
drove up from Columbus. My parents and one of my brothers with his
family drove down from Michigan. Barb went to Total Reflection Day Spa
to get all fancy. I went golfing with Mayor Farmer and his sons.
We
were supposed to get married at 5 p.m. in Fountain Park. Mother Nature
had other plans for us so Mayor Farmer called the library and asked if
we could use the reading room for an hour. They obliged graciously. We
had an intimate little ceremony with family and three local couples. Our
private reception was in the banquet room of the old Holiday Inn on
Washington Street. And the rest is history. We love Van Wert. We love
your city. We love your people. Van Wert is our little home away from
home. Thank you for sharing your beautiful little city with us. We are
humbled. - Pat and Barb VanWert
So if you ever wonder if this
hospitable city of 10,531 ever makes impact, here is proof. We were
honored to entertain our new friends and look forward to welcoming them
once again to the city that bears their name. To provide a place to
create entertaining memories is the name of our game.