Celebrating

Blanca & Ben

Saturday, October 7th 2023

Christ Church, Cooperstown, NY

Schedule

Friday, October 6th

~7:00 PM: Informal welcome drinks at Hawkeye Bar (come as you are, no dress code; just a relaxed place to gather for those already in town)

Location: The Otesaga Hotel, 60 Lake Street

Saturday, October 7th

~3:00 PM: Wedding Ceremony at the Christ Church (formal attire)

Location: 46 River Street

~4:30 PM: Reception at the Farmer’s Museum (formal attire) with the Carousel available for kids until 5:30pm (see more info below)

Location: 5775 State Highway 80 (Lake Road)

Sunday, October 8th

~10:30 AM / 1:30 PM: Brunch at Emily and Mike’s barn

Location: 3161 CR 33, Middlefield Center, NY

Saturday
transportation option

We will provide transportation via the Leatherstocking Trolley to and from the following hotels: Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn and Best Western.

The Trolley will make two pick ups at these hotels before the ceremony — one at 2pm and one at 2:30pm — taking guests to Christ Church. After the ceremony the trolley will take guests to the Farmer’s Museum and finally back to the same three hotels after the party.

(For those staying elsewhere, if you want this service you could park at one of those hotels and get your car at the end. Or let us know and we can see about adding another stop.)

Christ Church, Cooperstown

A thriving parish of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Our story stretches back over 200 years to the earliest days of Cooperstown.

The Carousel at The Farmer’s Museum will be available for kids of all ages during the first hour of our reception

The Carousel

Cooperstown in History

Most Americans recognize Cooperstown, New York (population 1,853) as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But it is a delightful small town of rural traditions, restored historic buildings, and myriad cultural attractions that visitors tend to remember just as much. In the state's central region, Cooperstown was settled in the late 18th Century by William Cooper. His son, James Fenimore Cooper, was an acclaimed novelist of the first half of the 19th century, whose masterpiece was “Last of the Mohicans”.

Surrounded by a magnificent wooded hill and situated on the shores of the lake, Cooperstown became a popular summer retreat by the middle 1800s. Otsego County, New York, was the leading producer of hops, a key ingredient in beer, by 1835, with Cooperstown, New York, as the central hub of production. Many of the estates and houses built during that time are still in use today, as is the Otesaga Hotel, the gracious keystone of Cooperstown, which was built in 1909.

Today, Cooperstown is a “village of museums”, including much more than just the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Source: The Village of Cooperstown Website.

Caracas, Venezuela

A Love that Came in Autumn

Blanca, a talented Venezuelan journalist, and Benjamin, a distinguished emerging markets analyst, embark on a beautiful journey together as they exchange vows and celebrate their union. Their story intertwines respect, friendship, dedication, and the manifest destiny of true love.

Blanca and Ben began as mutual admirers of each other's written work. Their professional paths nearly crossed during Ben's numerous trips to Venezuela, but circumstances and busy lives conspired to keep them apart for a while longer. Still, through the pages of their reports, they became increasingly familiar with one another, their words forging a connection that would shape their future.

When they finally met face-to-face, it was in the vibrant city of New York. A meeting at J.P. Morgan's offices surpassed all expectations. Envisioning an older, more bookish figure, Blanca was pleasantly surprised by a relatively younger and more charming scholar and gentleman than she had envisioned. Ben meanwhile was enchanted by Blanca's poise, dynamism and charisma. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, and as fate would have it, their paths continued to intertwine during various work events across the Americas. With each coincidental encounter, their friendship blossomed.

As the years passed, their relationship grew stronger, paving the way for a profound romantic connection. Overcoming the challenges of a long-distance relationship, and even the prolonged physical separation of a pandemic, Blanca and Ben nurtured their love over time. Their commitment to each other and their shared passion for their careers brought them closer, weaving their lives together with each passing day.

Two worlds, far apart, continue to merge into one life filled with shared dreams of many more beautiful moments to come.

The lighthouse never stops guiding the boats to safe harbor

Ben decided to propose to Blanca in a place that was woven into warm childhood memories: Block Island, Rhode Island. It was in nearby Charleston where Ben's mother spent many summers with her grandmother, a free spirit whose positive, intrepid energy was impressed onto several generations -- including for Ben and his sisters and cousins. From his great-grandmother’s second-floor guest bedroom, the child Ben would gaze at the flashing light of Block Island's North lighthouse.

Decades later, Ben's proposal to Blanca at that same lighthouse, with its light whirling unfailingly into the late evening horizon, represented the continuation of a cycle of authentic love and irrepressible positive energy. Even a late March arctic cold spell and an unplanned cocktail of seasickness and Dramamine could not block their path. The obstacles they faced on that day’s journey in a way mirrored the trials they had overcome as a couple, solidifying their love and reaffirming their unwavering commitment to one another.

The road to Cooperstown

With maturity and experience, Ben and Blanca appreciate that there are times to embrace the spontaneity of their hearts. After a whirlwind December 2022 adventure into the Bronx to get a marriage license, they exchanged vows in a simple yet profound civil ceremony at a Port Chester, New York, municipal office. But this commitment before the state was always meant to be a precursor to a shared commitment before God, dear family and friends. It hadn’t taken more than a trip or two to Cooperstown, the hometown of Ben’s mom, for Blanca to understand and embrace Ben’s sense of belonging to this special place in upstate New York. As they began to plan their celebration, It soon became obvious that Cooperstown was natural place to mark the end of the beginning of their story (which is still far from the beginning of the end).

Blanca and Ben share many passions. They both binge watch the soap opera that is Latin American politics. They’ll never say no to a baseball game (especially when the Yankees or any Venezuelan player are involved). Ben has learned to love Scotch and Blanca has learned to tolerate rye. They share immense joy of being dog parents to Blanca's two beloved furry companions: Lolita and Nutella.

As they embark on this new chapter together, this story wouldn’t be complete without the presence of their loved ones and closest friends on their sides. Especially Ben’s three sons, Zac, Henry and Billy. Surrounded by their loved ones, their hearts overflow with gratitude, love, and the promise of a future filled with shared dreams and endless possibilities.

So let us celebrate the union of Blanca and Ben, two souls who found each other in a world full of adversities but also of possibilities. May their love blossom, filling their lives with happiness, adventure, and the everlasting bond they have forged together.

Where are you headed?

Blanca and Ben’s love story holds a special place in Cooperstown, New York, where their wedding celebration will take place. Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape, Cooperstown is Ben’s mom’s hometown and a baseball enthusiast's heaven. With its serene beauty and vibrant autumn colors, Cooperstown offers the perfect backdrop for this joyous occasion, capturing the essence of their shared love for the game and the enchanting atmosphere of fall.

Captivated by its serene beauty and the vibrant hues of autumn, Blanca felt the enchantment emanating from this place. So it wasn’t a surprise that it was here, amidst Cooperstown’s tranquil embrace, that they decided to declare their eternal love and commitment in front of God.

Roselena McLaughlin