Romantic Same-Sex Island Wedding at Garten Verein in Galveston, Texas

Jeremy Stoll (37, educator) and Derick Hardy (39, artist and computer drafter) met one night when Jeremy was moving a friend down to Galveston for medical school. The two hit it off right away and nine months later, Derick moved to Austin to be with Jeremy—they’ve been together ever since. When it came time for the couple to choose where they wanted to be wed, it was a no-brainer for both of them. “We both felt like Galveston Island should be the location for our wedding. It’s where we met and has been a refuge for us over the years,” says Jeremy. Derick had his heart set on having the ceremony and reception at the Garten Verein, a historic building with whimsical, octagonal architecture and a lush lawn. In the beginning of their ceremony, Jeremy and Derick used a tradition called “The Warming of the Rings:” They asked their guests to hold the rings and place a blessing, prayer or positive intention on each. The rings were passed from guest to guest until the couple’s mothers received the rings at the start of the ceremony. Jeremy and Derick walked hand in hand down the aisle to “Somewhere” from West Side Story, played by a string quartet. Their wedding was a romantic, intimate celebration on the beautiful island surrounded by their closest friends and family.