Oscar Diaz and Janelly Mendoza, residents of Laredo, Texas, celebrated their wedding in a unique setting on June 11. The couple exchanged vows on stage at the Public Theater’s Delacorte Theater, following a performance of Romeo and Juliet in New York. The officiant for the ceremony was actor Francis Jue, who also played Friar Lawrence in the production.
Diaz and Mendoza have known each other since childhood. They met Saheem Ali, the associate artistic director, while he was visiting Laredo. Ali’s version of the play takes place at the U.S.-Mexico border, with Romeo’s family being Latino and Juliet’s family supporting the border patrol. This visit allowed Ali to experience the local culture first-hand.
Ali learned about a traditional ritual in border cities where a Mexican citizen and a U.S. citizen marry on a bridge, each standing on their respective country’s side, with an officiant in the middle. This inspired his idea of having a real wedding at the play’s conclusion, offering a hopeful contrast to the fictional doomed marriage.
“That marriage didn’t get to see the future. But if we had a real couple who we married at the end, and they got to go into the future, it just gives us all some hope.” — Saheem Ali
Although initially hesitant, Mendoza and Diaz agreed to the unique proposal. For Diaz, it was his first time in New York. Mendoza’s only previous visit was at the age of eight. Before the wedding, the couple enjoyed visiting iconic locations like the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square.
This ceremony was part of a larger initiative titled ‘Shakespeare in the Park,’ where a real wedding or vow renewal occurs after each performance throughout the summer. In total, there are 32 planned celebrations.
Francis Jue reflected on his role, stating, “One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received was being asked to officiate these weddings.” He emphasized the importance of communal experiences in theater amidst today’s societal divisions.
Following the show, Jue directed the audience’s attention back to the stage for the wedding. Diaz wore a brown blazer and cowboy boots, while Mendoza donned a long ivory dress with sparkly shoes. Jue made a poignant comparison, “Romeo and Juliet didn’t get their lifetime together. But tonight, there is a couple who came all the way from the border wall at Laredo, Texas, who would like to commit to their lifetime together with all of you as their witnesses.”
After reciting their vows, Mendoza and Diaz faced cheers from the audience. They displayed their wedding rings and signed the marriage license. Ali, jokingly pledging to ensure their long-lasting marriage, signed as a witness. Mendoza beamed, saying the experience was “better” than imagined.
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