"They could have their wedding reception for the cost of a subway fare."

July 16, 2024 1:07 PM

Couple holds wedding reception on L train (WaPo gift link) Archive link Anyone who happened upon their car became a guest of the wedding: At one point, someone dressed as Spider-Man attended. At another, there was someone in a gorilla costume. Later, when their power source went down, killing the music, everyone clapped and made other noise so the dancing and partying could keep going. As new riders entered the party car, Jean and Valdez’s crew asked them their names and then turned them into a song. This story staved off the doom and gloom for me for a little while today. Hope it does the same for you.
posted by TwoStride (22 comments total)

Argh, I hate the Washington Post's "Gift link" thing sometimes - here is an archive link if, like me, you don't feel comfortable giving your email address in order to claim the gift link kindly provided here.

(Not blaming you, TwoStride, I just feel like WaPo is taking the gatekeeping to a damn extreme.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:14 PM on July 16 [5 favorites]

"The events that led to the L-line wedding reception started more than three years ago, when Valdez developed a crush on Jean while following him on social media, she told The Post. She was later surprised to notice that he subscribed to her OnlyFans account."

Ah, modern romance! *wipes a tear from his eye*
posted by Kyol at 1:18 PM on July 16 [10 favorites]

Ack, sorry, I didn't realize people had to give an email address in order to access!
posted by TwoStride at 1:21 PM on July 16

Mods, could you replace the link?
posted by TwoStride at 1:23 PM on July 16

I didn't realize people had to give an email address in order to access!

No worries - that's because you were thinking logically and had a good heart.

I'm so torn about what the likely reaction would have been - because there were no doubt people who really got into the idea, but I'm also sure there were people who boarded the train, saw the festivities, and thought "Oh Christ, I'm just trying to get home and now there's THIS".

Then again, there was that video of a spontaneous Back Street Boys singalong breaking out on the subway a while back.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:25 PM on July 16 [4 favorites]

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posted by gestalt saloon at 1:28 PM on July 16 [3 favorites]

I just like the train,” Jean said. “There’s always something going on in the train.”

there are certain times in life when you realize that this is what life should be and is.
posted by clavdivs at 1:29 PM on July 16 [9 favorites]

Good on them for finding each other! It's hard to imagine how tough it must be with [waves hands] all this.

Several years ago, Mrs. Chromecow and I were on vacation in London, and went for a lovely walk in Southbank. As we approached the Southbank Center, there was a joyful cacaphony of music playing, and people dancing everywhere. As we drew closer, we saw a bride and groom dancing, and thought, ah, a wedding reception. And then we saw another bride and groom...and another.

We joined in and discovered the center was having a event, where anyone who wanted to have their wedding reception there, could, on that day, have it for free, if it was open to the public.

We spent the evening wandering the halls, dancing with the various parties. It was unexpected, and magical, as I imagine a reception on the L Train must be.
posted by chromecow at 1:41 PM on July 16 [22 favorites]

I could see being absolutely delighted to run into this situation - who doesn't love a good situation and a story for the years.

I could equally see being absolutely annoyed to no end to have to deal with the extra chaos of it all.

Don't we just contain multitudes?
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:49 PM on July 16

I'm so torn about what the likely reaction would have been - because there were no doubt people who really got into the idea, but I'm also sure there were people who boarded the train, saw the festivities, and thought "Oh Christ, I'm just trying to get home and now there's THIS".
EmpressCallipygos

If one has to suffer through bullshit on the subway it beats the Show Time guys, but not by much.
posted by star gentle uterus at 1:49 PM on July 16

I think if they held their wedding reception at an off-peak travel time people who were annoyed could just move to another car.
posted by Reverend John at 2:01 PM on July 16

But the giant letdown when the party ends in Canarsie.
posted by HVACDC_Bag at 2:05 PM on July 16 [2 favorites]

I, too, like trains.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:06 PM on July 16 [2 favorites]

The story of their relationship is a ride so it is fitting that their wedding reception was, too.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:18 PM on July 16 [3 favorites]

I would have adored this when I was commuting via subway in New York. And yes, it was rush hour, but it was a single car, so the most you'd need to deal with it would be one stop.

Good for them, this looks like a blast.

(Best I ever had was a busker do a quick and rather decent magic show between stops on an express. I think I gave him $5)
posted by Hactar at 2:28 PM on July 16 [1 favorite]

This pried my anxious heart right back open. Thank you for posting this!

(And for those wondering about the tired folks just trying to get home: Fair! But it looks like this was only in one car of the L.)
posted by greenland at 2:30 PM on July 16 [1 favorite]

This is just beyond delightful.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 2:42 PM on July 16 [1 favorite]

(And for those wondering about the tired folks just trying to get home: Fair! But it looks like this was only in one car of the L.)

NYC train shenanigans are something one gets used to: highly odoriferous people, buskers with amplifiers, someone telling their story in hopes of getting some money, etc. Usually easy enough to move to another car if it's not your scene.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 2:51 PM on July 16 [1 favorite]

This is so beautiful and just the kind of story I love, I'm crying, but they're happy tears. TY TwoStride
posted by Chrysopoeia at 2:57 PM on July 16 [1 favorite]

We got married in NY City Hall. I have a great picture of my wife in her wedding skirt and top (not white) waiting for the subway to take us there. Our wedding was just us, a cousin of hers as a witness, and the city hall person, who officiated in Spanglish. The cousin took us out for lunch and left. After that, it was just the two of us, no reception, no party, no family, just walking around a big city on our own.
In other words, my dream wedding.
This brings back memories, thanks!
posted by signal at 3:53 PM on July 16 [7 favorites]

I could equally see being absolutely annoyed to no end to have to deal with the extra chaos of it all.

And I guess that's the perfect sign you should prolly give up the notional lingering idea that you're still - if you ever actually were - relishing the constant stream of spontaneous and impossibly anticipated human activities that inspire the celebration of this piece of writing.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 4:24 PM on July 16

Yeesh, that's a Cincinnati opinion alright.

If you live here it's as Insert Clever Name Here said: you just get used to myriad background nonsense on the subway and some days the 19th spontaneous and impossibly anticipated human activity you've seen on the train that week does wear on one.
posted by star gentle uterus at 4:46 PM on July 16