Halloween Wedding Nixed by New Pastor of Sleepy Hollow’s Old Dutch Church

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Seriously… what would you do if a wedding you’d been planning for over 13 months was all of a sudden denied one week before the intended “I do’s”?  I’ll tell you what I would do.  I would – for sure - spontaneously combust.  Because my brain would not be able to process the news nor know who call first, my body would more than likely ignite and herethereto explode from disappointment.  Fortunately for Jim Nieves and Lisa Panensky, they did not combust… Unfortunately, however, they were given this sad, sad news.

While planning their Halloween themed wedding, this Nieves and Panensky were dealt a little more trick and little less treat.  Merely a week away from their ceremony – set to take place in the Old Dutch Church made famous by Washington Irving’s spook filled story, ‘The Legend of Sleep Hollow” – they were “poo poo’ed” by the church.

According to the New York Daily News, Nieves and Panensky had the Old Dutch Church reserved for over a year for their Halloween themed wedding, until the new Rev. Jeff Gargano stepped in and nipped their plans in the bud.  After receiving an email from the couple requesting the organist play the theme from “The Addams Family,” Gargano  responded with disdain and suggested that up until that point – one week prior to nuptial bliss – he had no reason to believe it was nothing more than a “run of the mill” ceremony.

Come on now, Reverend… the wedding date was intentionally set on October 31st – All Hollow’s Eve – in a Church made famous by a boo-riffic story.  I mean hello????  If that wasn’t enough, surely the black wedding dress and pirate ruffled tux should have been dead giveaways for the couple’s intent.  While Rev. Gargano did offer to marry the couple in the cemetery – refusing to have a “Halloween costume party” within the confines of the church - the couple decided they’d more than likely move the service to their home.  Boo, almost seems like a letdown compared to the original… my heart goes out to them.

 So, let this be a warning to all you brides-to-be out there planning a non-traditional wedding… be sure to check, double check, cross wires and split hairs with all intended parties to ensure that this won’t happen to you.  Lord knows I love a good wedding, and I would hate to see any more bridal plans go up in smoke!  Cheers to many years of wedded bliss and HAPP-HAPP-HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

5 Comments October 30, 2009