Boo’s Travel N More
Travel Agent / Notary / Ordained Minister
B o o ’ s T r a v e l N M o r e
7 2 7 - 9 5 3 - 7 9 1 8 | b o o s t r a v e l n m o r e @ y a h o o . c o m
w w w . b o o s t r a v e l n m o r e . c o m
W
a lunch date and it turned
into a whole afternoon thing,”
Taylor says.
“I remember thinking at the
so marry this guy,” Rafael says.
“Then after two years of talking
and dating long distance, I was
going back to New York after
a long holiday visit together
and I knew this is the one
Rafael adds, “My job was
with thousands of gay men and
I wasn’t interested in any of
them.” Taylor laughs.
he moved from Tallahassee.
moved back to Orlando, where
“I knew I was going to ask
Rooster in Harlem,” Taylor says.
“We were talking about moving
forward and how we were going
to go about things as we had
been dating long distance for
three years. I just was talking
two years from the date of
their engagement. They shared
it was an outdoor wedding
was very casual with just their
immediate families and a few
very close friends. They wrote
their own vows.
that we came back to the
years ago,” Rafael says. “Having
our families and loved ones
as witnesses made it even more
meaningful.”
Taylor shares.
The ceremony was followed
by casual drinks at Stonewall
and soul food at Chef Eddies
that there was one touch in
even more amazing.
“Rafael made our rings with
his own hands,” Taylor shares.
“I have an arts background.
I always wanted to design
and make our own rings.
I forged them two days before
the wedding. Talk about last
minute,” Rafael laughs.
—Aaron Drake
“This Must Be
the Place” by
Talking Heads
OFFICIANT:
Colin Moore
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Meche Ausina
Photography
Gulfport gal , St. Petersburg City
Councilwoman , Punky’s bartender
Aaron McBeth, Biz Buzz Inc’s Bryant Dannic (March
10); O-Town actor Kevin Kelly, Orlando activist/
arts supporter , artist Terry Hummel,
Dunedin dentist , St Pete Pride
President , Foreign film aficionado
Bob Austin, Former Doggie Door co-owner Jeff
Brow (March 11); Wells Fargo regional president
, Burlesque performer “Lady Siren”
(March 12); Tampa muscle man
Danny Watson, Orlando Hamburger Mary’s John
Paonessa, St. Pete community leader
(March 13); Quench bartender Mitch Demmons,
Tampa event planner , Orlando softball
superstar Mary Johnson, Ember bartender Ramon
(March 14); Tampa nutritional biochemist
Debra Roche, St. Petersburg realtor Bobby Poth,
United Health’s Paul Bradford (March 15); Publix
Headquarters PR man (March 16);
St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell,
skincare genius Tabor Winstead, Talkin’ Pets co-host
Jon Patrick, Enigma staple Indrek Karner (March
17); Ember bartender Brian Kabbash, Central Florida
recruiter (March 18); St. Petersburg
massage therapist Terrell Ray, Sheriff deputy Becca
, ABM Orlando’s Sheila Block (March
19); Central Florida radio personality Moira, Central
Florida performer William Bruce, Two Spirit guru
(March 20).
DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
watermark Your LGBTQ life. MARCH 7 - MARCH 20, 2019 // ISSUE 26.05 69
announcements
Gavin and Patrick Cooper
from Orlando, Florida
agree they’ve been stuck on each other
“A mutual friend thought
that we would be good together
and encouraged us to add each
other on Facebook,” Gavin
says. “So we did, but never
took the time to really chat
or schedule a time to meet in
person. More than a year later,
were inseparable starting that
very night.”
Patrick describes meeting
“I knew I wanted to marry
out of the restaurant to greet
was so handsome, it almost
took my breath away. I knew
in that moment I wanted to
marry this man.”
Gavin, an Altamonte Springs,
Fla. native, currently works as
a leasing professional. Patrick
originally from Laguna
Beach, Calif. They now live
together in Orlando.
With such remarkable
chemistry from the beginning,
it comes as no surprise that the
couple’s engagement was a big
to-do. Patrick was the one to
pop the question.
“Patrick proposed to me
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort,
the location where we had
“We had an amazing group of
talented friends that were able
to record the whole thing and
edited it into a beautiful video
that we decided to post onto
YouTube for our friends and
family to see. Almost four years
later, the video now has over
738,000 views!”
You can see the magical
the couple’s YouTube channel,
Gavin&Patrick. The video is
called “Patrick and Gavin’s
Disney World Proposal.”
The couple married in Nov.
2018. Their wedding day was
packed with every bit of the
same romance the couple had
been feeling all along.
Gavin describes a beautiful
moment the couple shared
prior to the ceremony. “I’ll never
forget the last few moments
we spent together before we
separated to walk down the
aisle to the ceremony stage. We
stood together behind a wall,
out of sight from our guests,
and just held each other’s hands
while praying and thanking
God for bringing us together
and for allowing us to have
all the people we love in one
place, in that very moment, to
watch us celebrate our love for
each other.”
Gavin adds, “It was a feeling
that I never had felt before.
I think it was due in part to
so many emotions running
through my body. It was truly a
magical moment.”
For Patrick, the special
moment came during the
ceremony when the couple was
sharing their own vows to each
other. “While I was reciting
mine, I stopped and told Gavin
to look out at what we were
able to do. I had been dreaming
about that moment for so many
years. It took a lot of hard work
and it had hit me right there on
the stage that this dream was a
reality, and if we were able to do
that, we could do anything that
we dream up together.”
—Aaron Drake
Nicholas Relyea and Harry Myers
from Tampa, Florida
H
our halfway point when we take walks at night, so it
and emotionally, were instant,”
was pursuing any kind of
relationship. People say when
you stop looking he will appear,
underwriter, is originally from
live together in Tampa.
“Marriage was never in the
shares. “Our relationship was
different from our previous ones
and we knew what we had was
hey, when you know you know.”
their sweet engagement video at
with their friends and family
theme per se, but knew from
the beginning of the planning
begin at 7 p.m., we knew that
The tables were dressed with
navy napkins.”
pair opted for a seven-tier
favorite moment from the day.
routine sessions and surprised
being together with their loved
ones. “The evening ended
with an impromptu friendship
arm-in-arm, singing and
swaying together. It was a truly
love and support.”
—Aaron Drake
ENGAGEMENT
DATE:
WEDDING
DATE:
VENUE:
COLORS:
WEDDING
SONG/ARTIST:
LIVE MUSICIAN:
DJ SERVICE:
CATERER:
OFFICIANT:
PHOTOGRAPHER:
WEDDING BELLS
PHOTO BY BRIAN ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHICS
CONGRATULATIONS
Orlando City Commissioners officially voted unanimously
April 8 to pass a resolution to recognize LGBTQ-certified
businesses in their procurement practices.
GayStPete House celebrated 11 years
serving St. Petersburg on April 14.
Sawmill Resort celebrated 21 years as America’s
favorite gay camping ground on April 16.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Orlando arts patron Jerry Baumeister, St. Petersburg
Stonewall Democrat Beth Fountain, St. Petersburg
superwoman Tammy Benjamin, Tampa Bay
environmentalist Joey Stalker (April 18); Orlando
bartender Spencer Dalberth, Tampa Bay entertainer
(April 19); Tampa Bay
entertainer , YouTuber
and transgender advocate , Sarasota-area
actor Peter Ruiz (April 20); Central Florida realtor Scott
Penyak, LGBTQ advocate Randy Stephens, On-air
personality for Magic 107.7 Chad Pitt, Tampa burlesque
producer Mayven Missbehavin (April 21); “Miss
Pee-Vira” AJ Pratt, Central Florida promoter Neema
Bahrini, Tampa business owner Michael DiCamillo,
Rollins College director of dance Bob Sherry, Project
No Labels founder , Tampa Femmes and
Follies producer Katie James (April 22); TIGLFF former
executive director former Watermark
sales rep Tammi Jones, Tampa Leather Club’s Joseph
, artist , Metro Operations
Manager (April 23); Congressman
Darren Soto’s aide , St. Petersburg
actor Tom Campbell, former Tampa actor Larry Buzzeo,
O-Town textbook editor Sara Lyna, former St Pete Pride
president Scott Turner, Tampa bear , Project
No Labels Social Media Director ; Florida
Orchestra Principal Flutist ,
Red Ribbon Cyclist Drew Reed (April 24); Watermark
contributor and “News Junkie” Florida
Democratic Progressive Caucus president Susan Smith
(April 25); Iberian Rooster Kyle Hill, Gender Identity
in Florida Today president Jennifer Marvin, Tampa
dancer Jackie Huston (April 26); Metro Inclusive
Health Fundraising and Event Coordinator Roosevelt
Cevallos (April 27); Parliament House owner Don
Granatstein, app whiz Randy Shepard (April 28); St.
Pete hotel manager (April 29); Tampa licensed
mental health counselor , UCF’s
former GLBSU president Jessica Osborn, St. Pete
drink-slinger Russell Sutherland (April 30); Orlando DJ
Brianna Lee from Parliament House, Orlando Shakes
marketing director (May 1).
DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
IT’S THAT EASY!
announcements
Stephen Hawk and Jonathan Soots
from St. Petersburg, Florida
many people tend to connect these
February 2015 at a house party.
friend’s housewarming,”
date was after our friend
Eddie Sotomayor’s funeral.”
The couple explained their
mutual friend passed away
during the Pulse tragedy in
Orlando. Seeing each other
again opened the door to them
spending more time together
after they attended the funeral.
in July 2016.
Hawk is from Kansas City,
Mo. and Soots is from Lenoir,
N.C. The couple lives together
in St. Petersburg with their
dog, Dusty.
Soots recalls when he
initially thought they were
destined to marry. “We realized
a couple months into our
relationship in fall 2016 when
we were apart for a couple
weeks, one on a pre-planned
vacation and the other staying
home for work. Stephen was
on a gay cruise in Europe and
messaged me saying, ‘OMG,
I miss you, will you marry me?’”
Hawk surprised Jonathan
when he popped the question at
the International Mall in Tampa.
“He took me to International
Mall and said we were going
to the Tesla store,” Soots says.
“Then he took me next door for
ring shopping. He said to me,
‘What rings do you like?’ And
then said, ‘Marry me!’ I said yes,
and we picked out our rings.”
The two married at the
beginning of 2019 in downtown
St. Pete. Performers included
soprano Ashley Thunder,
baritone Luis Gonzalez, tenor
Kevin Mitchell and cellist Betsy
Goode Isaak from Disney.
Mendelssohn’s “Wedding
March” was performed by
pianist Sean Bennett.
The ceremony was followed
by a reception at Hyatt Place
with their families and friends.
For Soots, the most
memorable moment of the
day came from the ceremony.
“Kissing him in a 120-year-old
cathedral where it once wasn’t
always acceptable,” he says.
“After coming out in 2010,
I never thought I would love
again. I worried about the
rawness and emptiness of life,
but he became my everything.”
Hawk also says the most
unforgettable moment of the
day for him came during their
ceremony. “Speaking from my
heart at the reception. Giving
vows in front of hundreds
of important people in
our lives.”
—Aaron Drake
Do you have an interesting wedding or engagement story you’d like to share with Watermark readers? If so, email the details to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com for consideration as a future feature on this page.
ENGAGEMENT DATE:
May 5, 2017
WEDDING DATE:
Jan. 12, 2019
VENUE:
Cathedral of St. Peter
COLORS:
Dark blue, purple, white
LIVE MUSICIAN:
Choirmaster Dwight
Thomas, Ashley
Thunder, Kevin
Mitchell, Amanda
Mayven Missbehavin’,
Nicole Desiree Hays
and Curiositorium crew
DJ SERVICE:
LaMonte Monnell
CATERER:
Hyatt Place
OFFICIANT:
Father Sam
Tallman and Canon
Katie Churchwell
CAKE BAKERY:
Artistic Whisk Desserts,
Jovana Boksen
CAKE/CUPCAKE
FLAVORS:
Chocolate ganache
layer cake, edible
glamour chocolate
glitter balls
THEME:
Xanadu, You Have to
Believe We Are Magic.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Jeanine Halum
WEDDING BELLS
PHOTO BY JEANINE HALUM
CONGRATULATIONS
Watermark contributor Colton Adkins and
Caleb Hernandez were engaged Feb. 3.
Salty’s Gulfport celebrated its sixth year Feb. 17.
Honey Pot celebrates its 12th anniversary March 2.
BarCodes Orlando celebrates 10 years on March 5.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Orlando educator John Albritton (Feb. 21); Tampa
consultant Bart Nagy, Rollergirl Jessy “Spikey” Wayles,
TIGLFF superstar Renee Cossette, St Pete Pride Treasurer
Stanley Solomons, Orlando photographer/videographer
Savannah Powell, Graphi-ko Gallery owner Wilmer E.
Vergara Homez (Feb. 22); Orlando’s singing cowboy
cub CiJay Bailey, The Hammered Lamb owner Jason
Lambert, Central Florida realtor David Dorman, Sunrise
Body Revival Chiropractic’s Dr. Travis France (Feb. 23);
Metro City Realty owner Jon Sheehan, St. Pete Free Clinic’s
Beth Houghton (Feb. 24); Songbird Megan Monesmith,
Geek Easy’s Oral Frier; Orlando graphic designer Lisa
Buck, Framing of Central Florida co-owner Mike Van Der
Leest, Tampa hairstylist Christopher Nejman, Tampa Bay’s
FabStayz and Outings & Adventures founder Robert
Geller, Tampa Bay transgender activist Janice Carney,
Regions man Bob Sanders (Feb. 25); Come Out With
Pride’s Matthew Riha, Orlando City Soccer Club account
executive Tiago Mazzotti (Feb. 26);Tampa softballer
Carlos Lopez, Sarasota Ballet marketing manager Mike
Marraccini, A/V technician at The Social/Beacham Peter
Smith, Orlando aesthete extraordinaire Jim Cundiff,
Tampa massage therapist Eduardo Campos (Feb. 27);
Orlando photographer J.D. Casto, Polk Pride’s Scott
Guira, Disney Cruise Line’s David Baldree (Feb. 28); Fields
Motorcars Orlando’s Russ Fowler, Orlando Gay Chorus’
Joel Strack (Feb. 29); Drag beauty Chrysanthe Mum,
Orlando Gay Chorus founding member Joel Strack (March
1); Former Joy MCC pastor Lisa Heilig, Indigo Hotel’s
Tim Calandrino, Orlando community activist Heather
Leibowitz, Tampa Bay bowler Carmen Aguilar, Girls in
Wonderland’s Yesl Leon (March 2); Gay Days’ Steve
Erics, Tampa photographer Todd Montgomery (March 3);
Tampa Bay singer and comedian Judy B. Goode, Sarasota
activist Mark Kidd, Club Orlando attendant Arthur Adams,
Tampa mama Patty Cannon (Mar. 4); Carnival Cruise
Line’s Seth Grunes, St. Pete socialite David Hines, The
Pub/Lakeland and Southern Comfort Campground owner
Vaughn Howell (March 5); Orlando playwright, actor, and
Watermark contributor Michael Wanzie, TIGLFF Director
of Programming KJ Mohr, Orlando realtor Rustin Davis,
Rollins College theater director Thomas Ouellette, Tampa
colorist Chas Stickney, Les Vixens dancer Allyna NiKohl,
Sarasota Modern agent Hector Esteban (March 6)
DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
Send it to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com
IT’S THAT EASY!
watermark Your LGBTQ life. FEBRUARY 21 - MARCH 6, 2019 // ISSUE 26.04 45
announcements
ENGAGEMENT
DATE:
March 11, 2015
WEDDING DATE:
Nov. 17, 2018
VENUE:
Hyatt
Regency Orlando
COLORS:
Burgundy,
Navy Blue, Gold
WEDDING SONG/
ARTIST:
“A Million
Dreams” by Pink
CATERER:
Hyatt
Regency Orlando
OFFICIANT:
Chris Winsor
CAKE BAKERY:
Hyatt
Regency Orlando
CAKE FLAVOR:
Marble with
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Danny Gorman
Photography
WEDDING BELLS
CONDOLENCES
Former St. Petersburg resident Herschel Bowen
passed away Jan. 18. He will be dearly missed.
Artist and former Orlando resident Paul Horan passed
away Jan. 28. He will be dearly missed.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Orlando attorney , Orlando fitness
guru , real estate agent
(Feb. 7); St. Petersburg dance instructor Julia
(Feb. 8); Co-owner of
Hamburger Mary’s Orlando Mike Rogier (Feb. 9);
Watermark columnist Melody Maia Monet, Creative
Tile Design of St. Petersburg owner ,
St. Petersburg hair stylist Ric Castro (Feb. 10);
Stonewall’s Julian Bain, LaToya Little aka Xia Adonis,
St. Petersburg attorney , Tampa media
specialist Bart Birdsall, Florida Council on Economic
Education Executive Director Mike Bell, Watermark’s
former creative assistant (Feb.
11); Tampa photographer Mark Danner; (Feb. 12); J.
Meyer’s Insurance co-owner ,
USF Vegetarian Society President , Tampa
Suncrest Home Health director Portia Weiss (Feb.
13); Honey Pot and G St Pete co-owner ,
Tampa Bay performer , UCF graduating
senior Steven Hogue, Orlando banking guru Diana
, Tampa Bay realtor Ryan Thompson (Feb. 14);
Gary Lambert Salon & Spa co-owner Shawn Hunt,
St. Petersburg’s The Queen’s Head co-owner Darren
Conner (Feb. 15); LGBTQ-friendly Pinellas County
Commissioner John Morroni, The Venue Orlando
owner Blue Star, Orlando man-about-town Nick Crush,
Tampa activist , Tampa Bay Bears
president Keenan Rose (Feb. 16); Tampa Bay entertainer
Iman, Downtown Arts District board member Ben
, Orlando playwright-actor John Ryan, Disney
entertainment guru John Bearse, Punky’s cast member
Monique Love (Feb. 17); Tampa’s Xtreme Total Health
and Wellness consultant Ty Williams, Orange County
arts hero Terry Olsen (Feb. 18); Owner of Crabtree
Healthy Living , Stonewall Pinellas
Democrat Rick Boylan (Feb. 19); Watermark husband
aka Dixie Lynn Michaels, Tampa
model and web site recruiter Michael Vought, Orlando
realtor , Central Florida funeral director
Sam Odom, Tampa Bay leather entrepreneur Billy
Lighthouse Credit Foundation founder David
Crow, Tampa Bay actor , Sarasota realtor
(Feb. 20).
DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
See your news in Watermark! Send your
IT’S THAT EASY!
watermark Your LGBTQ life. FEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 20, 2019 // ISSUE 26.03 53
announcements
ENGAGEMENT
DATE:
WEDDING DATE:
VENUE:
COLORS:
WEDDING SONG/
ARTIST:
WEDDING BELLS
Nick Crush and Jason Ruggerio
from Lake Helen, Florida
CONGRATULATIONS
Community Cafe celebrated five years and Old Key West
celebrated four years Jan. 19.
celebrates its sixth
anniversary Jan. 29.
Tampa Pride and GaYbor icons Carrie West and Mark
West Bias celebrate 42 years together on Feb. 3.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Orlando home inspector and art lover Paul Kusic,
St. Petersburg performer Rolando Xavier, former
Watermark intern Kim Slichter (Jan. 24); Tampa Bay
performer Ashley Smith, Tampa Bay guiding light
, ABC7 meteorologist Trevor Hay es,
St. Petersburg realtor and Punky’s proprietor Jim
(Jan. 25); Sarasota photographer Kaje
Housman, Double M Band’s Mario Jooste, The Garage
bartender , Ybor City special events promoter
Chucky Ruckus (Jan. 26); CR insurance group agent
(Jan. 27); Orlando performer
Jewell, St. Matthew’s Tavern co-owner ,
Orlando thespian Tim DeBaun, Faith Arts Village Executive
Director Will Benton, Tampa Bay massage therapist
Once you say
I DO,
share your story with
Watermark
readers.
EMAIL DETAILS TO EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM FOR CONSIDERATION AS A FUTURE FEATURE.
WA T E RMA R K ’ S WE D D I N G G U I D E 2 0 1 9 30 C E L E B R A T E Y O U R L G B T Q L O V E .
link
link
link