As an officiant I get to meet so many amazing people. Each and every one has a wonderful story about how they met their spouse. This is one of those truly amazing and wonderful stories… It’s about courage, togetherness, companionship and love.
Tammy and Albert were homeless and living on the streets of Las Vegas when they met. It’s an environment where one of the biggest rules is “Don’t trust anyone” because you don’t really know why or how that person ended up on the streets or, more importantly, what their motive is for being nice to you. So trust is a rare commodity. But there are those who are motivated to get off the streets, and every once in a while they find each other, just as Albert and Tammy did.
This story isn’t about how they got to where they were. How they ended up on the streets is not my story to tell. I’m here to do what I always do, to tell you about a wedding I performed. Why and how these two ended up homeless is not as important as the message they want me to bring to you.
A nonexistent trust slowly turned into an acquaintance which turned into a friendship and finally turned into someone who will always be loyal no matter the cost. They are two people who will always believe in each other. Together they got themselves off the streets. They left Vegas, start a business, and now they have a home that is filled with warmth and love and caring for each other.
11 years later they decided to come back to Vegas to get married. But this time they weren’t sleeping on the street, they had a beautiful 3 room corner hotel suite surrounded by family and friends celebrating with them.
They could have chosen to get married in any one of the many hotels and chapels this town has to offer. Instead they chose go back to where it all began. I had the honor of marrying them in almost the exact spot and time that they met on Fremont back when they were homeless all those years ago. It was amazing and an honor.
Their message: Not everyone homeless is out to get something for nothing. And with a desire to change, courage and help anyone can get themselves off the street.
