Blogfinger

Flowers for the wedding. Boardwalk Pavilion, May 18, 2012. iPhone photo by anonymous.

Bride enters the Pavilion. Date stamp says “5:13 p.m. May 18, 2012”

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net 5/18/12.

We received a report of a wedding last Friday afternoon, May 18, at about 5 p.m., in the Boardwalk Pavilion. This was surprising because, as many Grovers know, in 2007, there was a controversy surrounding the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association’s denial for a civil union ceremony to be held there.  After that dispute, the CMA changed its policy and would no longer allow any ceremonies to be held there including weddings and civil unions. Currently there is a sign posted which says, among other things, that “this building is private property, owned by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.” It also says, “This facility is not available for private events or ceremonies.”

The report of the wedding came from an individual who asked to remain anonymous. She said that she is a long-time resident of the Grove, and this is what she reported, dated May 23, 2012:

“Paul, it was a beautiful wedding. I just happened to be on the boardwalk at about 4:30 p.m. (Friday, May 18, 2012) and saw these people very dressed up (they were clearly not going to Bamboozle!). I asked one of them what was going on. She said they were getting ready for a wedding.

“There was a large bus parked across the street from the pavilion. This guest pointed out that the bride’s family was concerned about parking because of the festival, so they had rented a bus to bring the guests in. Absolutely no mention of use of venue. At about 4:50 p.m. all of the guests were in the  pavilion complete with flowers, keyboardist and singer…..waiting for the bride. A police car pulled up, and the officer sat for a minute watching, but then left. There was no reaction from the guests to the police car; in fact, they were fairly unconcerned.

“At 5:00 p.m., a trolley (Lake Como Trolley Company) pulled up across the street. From the passenger side, three bridesmaids and a maid of honor proceeded across the street and met the ring bearer and flower girl. Next came the bride and her escort. I say all this to suggest that this clearly was a well-planned affair. The groom and his many attendants were waiting at the front of the pavilion.

“I do not want to stereotype, but this just did not look like a family that was having a rushed ‘unsanctioned’ wedding. I just don’t think they were wedding day risk-takers.

“I am aware that this facility is not supposed to be used for ceremonies. I have younger family members who have wanted to get married there since they were youngsters. I have heard rumors that weddings were still going on there, but this time I was a witness to one.

“I sincerely hope you check into this and inform your readers if the CMA is turning a blind eye towards certain couples getting married there. ”

After some initial difficulty getting a response from the CMA, we heard from Mr. Ralph Del Campo, Acting Chief Administrative Officer. We spoke by phone. He referred to the incident as “a rumor” which they were investigating. He said that the CMA has not changed its policies vis a vis ceremonies in the Pavilion, and he said that they certainly did not sanction any wedding there.

When I told him that we had a first person account and some photos, he said that if a wedding had been held there, it would have been very “disrespectful” on the part of those who participated. He concluded by saying that the CMA wants to have a good relationship with all groups in the Grove. He also said that he was anxious to see the report and photos which we were going to post.

SOUNDTRACK:  Did someone say, “Hey…Cheer up.  It’s a wedding!”     Let’s remember that with a love song—–by Elvis: