The library will always be more than just a building designed to house books. It is a place where epic love stories dwell, where romantic poetry lies peacefully, protected; it is the home to the tales of a hundred loves that live on, petrified and bound in paper like jewels kept secret inside unlocked boxes. Love is a triumph, love is a tragedy, love is what eternally burns within and sets the prose of passion aflame. All this, existing evermore, stands still on shelves inside a brick building that is the home of every literary lover you’ve ever fixed your inner eyes upon, breathed in, and held close to your chest.
Yes, those who can fully grasp the scope of the multi-sensory satisfaction of taking refuge in the library are indeed few. But, once upon a time, a girl met a boy who ‘got it.’ The couple that found the book nerd in each other connected, guided by the inner archetype of academia they both possessed, fell in love and began figuratively writing their own story of love, crafting a life together that would lead to a happy ending. They would begin their Chapter One with a storybook wedding within the sanctity of the Mattapoisett Free Library.
Shannon Devlin and Matthew Spelman knew they wanted to tie the knot in the library. It just seemed apropos, given their mutual love of books. The idea seemed romantic to the pair, the ideal setting to exchange eternal vows among the eternal works of the greatest loves of history.
When the couple approached the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, the town in which Devlin was raised, the library board was anything but enthusiastic about a wedding party, despite the couple’s offer to purchase multi-million dollar insurance, invite only adults, the promise of no food or beverages, and that guests would remain standing at all times. It was a resounding ‘no,’ with the consolation of allowing the wedding to be held outside on the library steps, out in the November cold.
“I was really sad and disappointed,” said Devlin, although she did not give up on her notion of a being a library bride. She sought out other venues, which led her to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library in the town where she was born. Devlin described the library as being cozy with beautiful rooms with arched windows, a gorgeous wrought iron spiral staircase, and interior brick walls – the perfect concoction of romance for a couple of bibliophiles in love.
Library Director Susan Pizzolato said she was touched a year ago when Devlin and Spelman first made their request. Devlin’s desire to be married in a library was sincere, and after some careful thought and permission by the appropriate authorities, Pizzolato allowed for a modest, controlled wedding ceremony inside the library to take place on November 7.
Devlin found Pizzolato’s response to be welcoming and warm like a fairy godmother of sorts granting a girl’s one wish of a library wedding.
“I think the warm welcome set the tone for the whole wedding experience,” said Devlin. “We are so very grateful and I think that our location was meant to be. Our ceremony was beautiful and filled with love and literature.”
On Saturday, November 7, the wedding party arrived at the steps of the library via school bus. No decorations were brought into the library that was standing room only; however, everything planned for the wedding reception – from the invitations resembling old leather-bound books, to the centerpieces of glowing luminaries with book pages, to the card catalog-style escort cards – encompassed the literary theme.
Devlin and Spelman chose a vintage color palette of sage and gold, “Which I think made the décor feel cohesive,” Devlin added.
The ceremony even incorporated the surrounding love stories that live at the library, with readings of excerpts chosen from Plato’s Symposium and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.
“We also had some whimsical and modern readings from William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, Robert Fulghum’s poem, ‘All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Kindergarten,’” said Devlin. “Some of these readings we actually incorporated into the vows.”
“Matt and I knew early on that we wanted to get married in a library,” Devlin said. “Libraries are places of learning and we’re both the nerdy, academic type. The stacks are also lined with books containing the most beautiful love stories and poetry ever written…. The Mattapoisett Public Library, and especially the director Susan, made it all possible.”
But readers beware: we must not get carried away, for this was the one and only wedding to be held at the library. Library trustees and staff have no plans to host another, only allowing for this one time. There is too much involved in hosting an event such as a wedding, and Pizzolato said she has no interest in opening up the library as an event hall.
“We agreed to host the wedding, but it’s not something that we want to do on a regular basis,” said Pizzolato. “We don’t want to interfere at all with the public’s use of the building.”
So it truly was a once-upon-a-time event – a storybook wedding for a couple to begin their happily ever after, but a definite “The End” for the Mattapoisett Library’s chapter as a wedding venue.
By Jean Perry
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