‘A wild thing': Couple marries at Arlington Public Library after winning free wedding contest

Arlington residents Katie Lettie and Vincent Bauer have the kind of love story you read about in books That s part of why the Arlington Constituents Library hosted their wedding on Saturday Lettie and Bauer were the winners of a contest the library held earlier this year taking submissions from couples in the DMV and gifting a free wedding hosted at the Arlington Central Library to one lucky couple And it makes sense After more than a decade together sometimes on opposite coasts sometimes an ocean apart according to the library system there s no doubt that they re dedicated to each other The couple met in college in Chicago They would chat between classes back in getting to know each other then getting lunch together then seeing movies That eventually led to romance the couple disclosed But after graduation they moved to opposite coasts Lettie got a job in Boston while Bauer went to school in California to get his PhD We tried to visit each other at least every six weeks though Lettie announced If that wasn t far enough to journey at one point during his studies Bauer was based in Jordan he informed the library system And so I being based calmly in Boston consistently in Boston had to go back and forth kind of all over the world to spend time with you Lettie declared expressing satisfaction When the pandemic hit and Lettie s job in the hard-hit hospitality industry seemed at hazard anyway the couple decided to make the move to Arlington Lettie s sister lived in Ballston and Bauer got a job in the area after his graduation creating a base for the couple to start building their lives together Arlington was the first place that we were ever able to live that was permanent Lettie noted Or had a sense that like the future could go on as the current moment was The couple says they re grateful to the friends they ve made and the public they ve become a part of As for the library patrons staff supporters and local vendors that pulled together the couples wedding they declared It s a wild thing This is such an amazing gift Lettie declared It s such a magical experience It s so cool In the weeks before the wedding the library hosted paper flower making workshops and a flower arrangement lesson open to anyone who craved to help with decorations for the happy couple A guest book was also placed in the lobby of Central Library in the weeks before the wedding for library visitors to leave their well wishes and advice for Lettie and Bauer Local vendors provided the free food cake furniture rentals decorations flowers photography and music Arlington County Jan From book lovers to lovers Arlington library contest to give free wedding LGBTQ Jun Leaving with a smile' Inside DC's new LGBTQIA neighborhood center The Scene Apr Folger Shakespeare Library to celebrate the writer's birthday Saturday Library Director Diane Kresh officiated their ceremony on the first-floor lobby of Central Library Seats were reserved for the couple s guests but members of the constituents were also invited to stand and witness the wedding ceremony While the ceremony was community the reception was private and reserved for Lettie and Bauer s closest friends and family This story uses functionality that may not work in our app Click here to open the story in your web browser