Wedding to be held at Italian American Festival: That's amore!
By Kyle Valentini
July 31, 2012
385
Summary: For the first time in the history of the Tuscarawas County Italian American Festival a wedding will take place. The public is invited to attend the marriage of Sherri Beamer to Greg Brink.
After eight years together Sherrie Beamer of Sugarcreek and Greg Brink of Dover have decided it is time to get married. The dress has been chosen, the flowers have been ordered and the invitations have been sent. The thing that makes this wedding different than any other is the location.
The couple could have chosen a church or a quiet country setting but instead they chose the main stage of the Tuscarawas County Italian American Festival. Both Beamer and Brink serve as volunteers at the festival that is now in its 24th year.
Brink proposed to Beamer on Mothers Day in 2010 and of course she said yes. The delay was complicated not once but twice when Beamers sons Corporal of Marines Joseph Murray and Corporal of Marines Kenneth Murray were deployed on two different occasions to Afghanistan. I wanted my sons to be here when we got married and now they will both walk me down the aisle, said Beamer.
Beamers youngest son Bill will play the wedding march on his bass guitar. I couldnt be more excited about the wedding, said Bill Murray. Greg has been a dad to us since day one. When my mom worked nights he would call us every morning to make sure we were up for school. Hes our dad and we love him.
This is the first wedding in the Brink family in 26 years, said Gregs mother Patricia Brink. The last wedding was my daughter Didi. I think I am ready except for my nerves. You get nervous and hope everything goes the way you plan. Sherri and the boys are already a part of this family. Around here you know you are pretty much a part of things when I hit you on the back of your head. When Greg and Sherri first started dating I think she was thought we were mad at her all the time because we talk loud and fast here.
Beamer came from a simple and quiet Amish background and the noisy, Italian household took some getting used to. It is great to make it official, said Beamer. We will officially be a part of this wonderful family.
The idea to get married at the festival was suggested by members of the Tuscarawas County Italian American Festival (TCIAF) committee on a junket to a local winery. We were getting teased about not being able to set a date and get married, said Beamer. Someone jokingly said we should do it at the festival and the idea just blossomed. When we asked the board they immediately said yes.
Members of the TCIAF committee hope a wedding or other special event can be an annual occurence at the nearly quarter century old celebration. It is cool to think my parents are starting a new tradition, said Bill Murray. When other people get married at the festival it will be nice to know my parents were the first.
Dover Mayor Rick Homrighausen will perform a double ring ceremony that will include an exchange of vows and roses at the Aug. 10 7:30p.m. event that is open to the public. Beamers niece Amber Martin will serve as Maid of Honor with her daughter, Rylee Beachy filling the role of flower girl. Greg Brinks brother Mike Brink will serve as best man and his great nephew C.J. Hoffman will be the ring bearer.
The Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church at Dover has kindly donated a room where Beamer and her wedding party can prepare for the nuptials.
A celebration with light refreshments will take place after the ceremony near the Walnut Street stage and all are welcome.
The newly married couple will honeymoon at Put-n Bay Island on Lake Erie.
